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YSU reaches tentative agreement with faculty
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
The Youngstown State University administration has confirmed what a faculty union spokesman said a week ago: A tentative contract agreement has been reached.
“We’ve reached a tentative agreement, and we’ll now be reviewing and scheduling an opportunity to consider ratification,” said Ron Cole, a YSU spokesman.
Last week, Gabriel Palmer-Fernandez, chief negotiator for the YSU-Ohio Education Association, the union that represents YSU faculty, said an agreement had been reached after an accord had been achieved on health care.
YSU President Jim Tressel at that time, though, said in a statement through a spokeswoman that an agreement was expected early this week.
The two sides had reached agreement on everything but health care Aug. 15, but that issue kept a full pact from being reached.
Both the full union and the university trustees must approve the terms before a contract is finalized.
The union has decided to schedule its vote after an agreement is approved by university trustees.
Three years ago, the union voted first and then the trustees.
The university didn’t offer details about the proposal, but Palmer-Fernandez said last week that it provides for a 15 percent employee health-care contribution using a sliding-fee scale, rather than a flat rate.
According to information previously obtained by The Vindicator, it also calls for a combination of pay increases and bonuses but also a reduction in summer pay and elimination of extended teaching service.
The amount of the bonus would be $1,000 for full professors, $750 for associate professors, $650 for assistant professors and $500 for instructors, according to information obtained by the newspaper.
In the second year, there’s also a bonus based on academic rank and a 0.5 percent increase to base pay for all members. The bonuses are $1,200 for full professors, $950 for associate professors, $850 for assistant professors and $700 for instructors.
There would be a 2 percent pay increase in the third year but no bonus.
The cap for summer pay also would be reduced.
Faculty members who teach during the summer are paid 3.25 percent of their salary per credit hour. Under the current pact, the amount upon which that calculation is based is capped at $80,000. The two sides have agreed to lowering that cap to $65,000, according to information the newspaper obtained.
Extended teaching service would be abolished under what’s being considered. This year, those eligible for retirement would receive a $40,000 buyout paid over five years in place of ETS. That option, however, would be available only this year.
The average faculty salary is $72,657. With benefits, that average increases to $95,907, university officials have said.
The faculty contract expired Aug. 17. The university’s contract with the Association of Classified Employees, the union that represents classified employees, expired Aug. 15, and no pact has been reached.