YSU faculty union chief says university misused funds meant for workers

YOUNGSTOWN

The chief negotiator for Youngstown State University’s faculty union says the university “stiffed” employees by putting money that was supposed to be used for either reduced employee health care contributions or other plan enhancements into the general fund.

The university’s interim vice president for finance and administration, however, says the union’s contentions reflect “a serious lack of understanding or a misinterpretation of how the university’s self-insured health care plan functions.”

Negotiating teams for both the union and administration have been meeting for months to try to reach a new contract. The previous pact expired Aug. 17. On Aug. 15, the parties issued a joint news release,

announcing that a tentative agreement had been reached.

That tentative agreement, however, didn’t address health care, and that issue remains unresolved.

Gabriel Palmer-Fernandez, chief negotiator for YSU’s faculty union, sent a negotiations update to faculty Thursday that was obtained by The Vindicator. In it, he says the union filed a grievance against the administration, alleging the contract was violated.

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