Tensions rising again at YSU

Tensions rising again at YSU
EDITOR:
I hate to say it again, but a dark cloud is hanging over our fair campus with yet another labor-management conflict. This time our administration has decided to challenge the conclusion of an independent arbitrator that granted four personal days to the employees of Youngstown State University as directed by the Ohio Revised Code. Our interim executive director of human resources, Ron Chordas, described the ruling as "a travesty" and "erroneous." He also states that "there is a principle at stake here. This ruling ignores the agreed upon contract between the university and its classified employees. & quot;
Wow. What an interesting point. Mr. Chordas fails to mention that the YSU-ACE Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 9.8 F states & quot;The arbitrator's decision is binding upon the University, the Union, and the grievant. & quot; If you follow the logic of the administration's argument that the decision "...ignores the agreed upon contract between the university and its classified employees. & quot; Then I guess we can assume that we can negotiate an 85 mph speed limit for ACE employees just in case we feel the need not to abide by the states safety laws. Sounds far fetched, but that seems to be the university's position.
Bottom line, YSU-ACE negotiated our current two personal days giving up another benefit in the process. No mention of state law was made. This point was verified with the arbitrator's findings and according to the YSU-ACE CBA this decision is binding. Now it comes to the administration's need to follow the Ohio Revised Code. Period.
Issues that seem to be a straight forward directive by either an arbitrator, the YSU-ACE CBA, or Ohio law, which are constantly being challenged, seem to be the number one cause of our current state of dissent. Granted, it is the responsibility of the administration to be fiscally responsible, and this judgment will be costly. However, why isn't the same "fiduciary responsibility" directed towards ALL aspects of their decision making? Why wasn't the continued payment to John Habat challenged? Why aren't the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on outside consultants questioned? Why are we continually creating administrative positions with no regard to cost? Why are all disagreements virtually taken directly to arbitration rather than compromised?
The rationale seems to be based on what is deemed as best for the institution. What is the institution? Is it brick, mortar and steel? No. The Institution of YSU is about flesh and blood, people and their families. The institution is our students, staff, faculty, alumni, and administration. The current administration seems to be dehumanizing the institution for an unforeseen bigger plan. If they would put half the effort into creating a better learning atmosphere for our students, while caring for the real Institution, that they put into trying to break the labor unions in search of personal agendas, YSU could soar into its next 100 years.
FRANK BETSA
Austintown
The writer is a Network Performance Tuning Analyst in YSU Network Services.
Some noises aren't problems
EDITOR:
I would like to respond to the March 29 letter complaining about "noise" in Youngstown. He felt that the mayor and city council should deal with what he perceives as a problem. The things that he complained about are certainly not problems for the mayor or council. They surely have bigger fish to fry and other important city business to deal with.
The noises that he complained about were train whistles, which indicate industry somewhere in the area; ambulance sirens, which means someone is in need of emergency services, and church bells. He should thank God that he lives in a country where there is the freedom to even have churches that ring their bells. Perhaps he should move to a country where such things are prohibited, or invest in a good pair of earplugs.
FRANCES L. SINGLETON
Youngstown