Oct. 7, 2020
YSU statement, re. faculty contract negotiations
Negotiating teams for the Youngstown State University administration and faculty union met this afternoon to continue bargaining for a new three-year contract.
The faculty union’s most recent contract proposal includes annual pay increases that would cost the university $4.2 million compounded over the three years of the contract. It would be irresponsible for the administration to agree to such a proposal given the university’s financial circumstances:
- $3.7 million drop in general fund revenue this fiscal year.
- 31 employee layoffs.
- Up 15 percent pay cuts for 481 non-faculty employees (majority cut by 10 percent).
- 4.4 percent overall drop in enrollment this year
- Freshmen enrollment down 5 percent in 2019 and an additional 8 percent this year.
- The projected number of high school graduates for the five-county region that provides the vast majority of YSU’s student population is projected drop significantly in the next decade.
- In addition, the further inpact of the ongoing global pandemic must be considered.
Nevertheless, during negotiations on Wednesday, the administration presented a proposal to the faculty that includes salary increases.
Another round of contract talks is scheduled for Friday afternoon.
