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Health care hike, summer pay cap in YSU deal
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
The Youngstown State University faculty will vote early next week on a tentative agreement for a three-year contract that includes higher health-care contributions and an $80,000 cap on summer-school pay.
The Vindicator has learned that the tentative agreement reached Wednesday between the administration and faculty union calls for no raises in the first two years with a 2 percent increase in the third and final year.
Spokespeople for neither the university nor the union confirmed agreement details.
The employee health-care contribution also will increase in an amount that equals 10 percent the first year, 12 percent the second and 15 percent the final year.
The formula developed for health care is income-based, meaning those who make more will pay more while those making less will pay less.
A third tier also was added for health care, allowing a category for single-plus-one in addition to single and family coverage.
The percentage for summer-school pay also will be reduced and the amount capped at $80,000. Previously, the cap was $100,000.
This year, the highest summer-school pay was $40,380.
The average faculty nine-month salary is about $72,000. Summer-school pay is in addition to the regular salary.
The tentative agreement comes after weeks of meetings between the two sides.
Last month, the faculty union rejected what the university had termed its last, best offer, saying members would strike before the start of the fall semester.
The union leadership changed gears within hours of the vote, though, opting not to strike and to keep talking with administration representatives.
The agreement was reached between the two sides a few days after the administration reached a tentative agreement with its Association of Classified Employees last week.
ACE employees are to vote on the proposed pact Monday. The faculty vote will run two days, Monday and Tuesday.