YSU's ACE union overwhelmingly rejects final contract offer

YOUNGSTOWN

The Association of Classified Employees at Youngstown State University has voted down a “best and final” contract offer.

The union voted Wednesday evening, overwhelmingly rejecting the contract. Union President Connie Frisby said afterward that 231 out of 282 active members voted, with 195, or 84.4 percent, voting against it.

Thirty-six, or 15.6 percent, voted to accept it.

The union includes about 300 secretaries, administrative assistants, parking attendants, groundskeepers and others.

They have been working without a contract since Aug. 15 and have been in negotiations with the university for more than a year, Frisby said.

“I was surprised at the outcome,” she said.

Subcontracting is “a big problem,” she said, and layoff notification was reduced “dramatically,” from 63 days’ notice to 14 days.

Read more about the vote in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.