YSU puts administrator on leave, examines ACE contract

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State University Board of Trustees announced at a special meeting today that Craig Bickley, chief human resources officer and chief negotiator for the university, has been placed on administrative leave.

This action is a result of an issue with the Association of Classified Employees’ three-year contract that was ratified in July.

The contract stated that 380 non-faculty employees at YSU would receive an annual pay increase of 2.5 percent and 2.6 percent under the new terms.

But earlier this fall it became apparent to senior administrators that while duties of one or more employees remained constant, one or more employee’s pay increased much more than the contract initially stated.

One employee's salary increased 36 percent, a $20,000 increase. During the negotiations Bickley was representing the university administration

The intent of the ACE contract was to align with state classifications, but it has come to light that the ratified contract was not in accordance with state classifications.

Bickley was named the chief human resources officer at YSU in September 2007. Before his current position he was the executive director of human resources for the Columbus Public Schools, according to Vindicator files.