YSU appealing arbitrator's ruling on fired worker

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State University is asking a judge to vacate an

arbitrator’s decision to give a fired payroll employee and former union chief his job back.

In July, an arbitrator ruled that Ivan Maldonado, fired in 2009

after he was accused of threatening other employees and poor work performance, should be returned to work immediately. The arbitrator, Michael E. Zobrak of Aliquippa, Pa., determined that Maldonado, former president of the university’s Association of Classified Employees, should have been suspended rather than discharged.

The university, through attorneys George S. Crisci and David P. Frantz of Cleveland, argues in a memorandum filed this week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court that the arbitrator’s award should be vacated in part because he excluded evidence.

Attorney Ira Mirkin, who represents ACE, said he will respond to YSU’s filing in the appropriate time.

“It appears they’re just trying to re-litigate the case that’s already been decided by an arbitrator,” he said. “The courts typically aren’t friendly to such attempts when there’s been a decision to have them decided by binding arbitration.”

Read more about the case in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.