YSU Ex-chief at GM aids pact talks

YSU hopes the former Lordstown leader will smooth labor relations on campus.
By RON COLE
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Herman Maass, retired manager of the General Motors Lordstown Assembly Plant, is helping Youngstown State University with its upcoming contract negotiations with faculty and other employees.
Maass, credited with improving labor relations at the Lordstown plant, met with university trustees for 90 minutes Thursday in closed door, executive session to discuss YSU's bargaining strategies.
He also previously led a workshop for university administration about developing a positive environment for contract talks.
YSU President David Sweet said he invited Maass to advise the university and now plans to hire Maass as a paid consultant, although no contract has been worked out.
"He has the mutual respect" of management and labor in the Mahoning Valley, Sweet said. "He had a track record of making impressive gains. He has lessons to be learned."
Maass, who came to Lordstown in 1996 after five years managing GM's Saturn plant in Tennessee, said he is willing to help any way he can.
"I was asked to come because of my experience and the fact that Lordstown has come as far as it has," he said.
When contracts expire: Contracts for YSU's two largest unions -- faculty and classified employees -- expire in August. Negotiations are expected to begin soon.
"He did a good job at Lordstown; we'll see what happens here," said Roman Swerdan, president of the 375-member YSU Association of Classified Employees.
Robert Hogue, first vice president of the 380-member YSU faculty union, said he was surprised to see Maass meeting with trustees and doesn't know what to make of it.
"He's certainly been through the process and has a lot of experience," Hogue said. "If the process is going to be better than it's been before, then I would look forward to it."
Improving labor relations has been one of Sweet's top priorities since coming to YSU in July 2000.