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YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State University's board of trustees has approved a pair of new three-year contracts for two of the university's unions.
During a special meeting Friday morning in Tod Hall, the board unanimously approved the contracts for YSU's Ohio Education Association and its Association of Classified Employees unions.
The OEA represents the university's faculty members; the ACE union represents various administrative, maintenance and support staff. The OEA ratified their contract July 17 and ACE just ratified their contract Thursday.
The OEA agreement includes 3% salary raises in each of the contract's three years, and the ACE agreement includes pay increases of 3% in the first year, 2.75% in the second year and 3% in the third year. Additionally, the university increased the starting salaries of strategic classifications in the ACE union in order to remain competitive in hiring and retention. The board also passed a resolution to grant the benefits of some portions of the ACE contract to classified employees excluded from bargaining.
The new ACE contract is to take effect Aug. 16. The OEA agreement is to do the same Aug. 21. The current ACE and OEA contracts were to expire Aug. 15 and Aug. 20, respectively, Rebecca Rose, university spokeswoman, said.
In addition, YSU trustees agreed to increase starting salaries for faculty positions and provide promotional increases that "will contribute to the recruitment and retention of premier faculty teaching and conducting research at YSU for current and future generations of students," according to a university news release Friday.
"Reaching agreements that serve both our employees and the university is an important accomplishment. The board appreciates the good-faith efforts of everyone involved in these negotiations and is confident these contracts provide a strong foundation for continued success at Youngstown State," Charles T. George, board chairman, said in a statement.
"These agreements reflect what can be accomplished when everyone comes to the table with a shared commitment to Youngstown State University and the students we serve," YSU President Bill Johnson said. "Our faculty and staff are the foundation of the YSU experience, and these contracts recognize their important contributions while positioning the university to continue building on our momentum."
A.J. Sumell, the OEA union's chief negotiator, said after the session Friday that about 97% of the estimated 270 voting members approved the contract, which was the final product of negotiations that had gotten underway in December. Since then, between 10 and 15 joint meetings, some of which were contentious at times, took place to come up with the best and fairest agreement for all parties, Sumell noted.
In terms of economics, the new contract is the best one since about 2008, added Sumell, who also is a longtime economics professor.
"I think our team did an amazing job," Mark Vopat, OEA president, said.
Hampering the monthslong negotiating process to some degree, however, was Ohio Senate Bill 1, also known as the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, Vopat noted.
SB1, which he referred to as "unclear," bans diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in higher education and curtails certain tenure protections as well as collective-bargaining power.
Critics contend the measure attacks academic independence and creates a negative impact on the state's competitiveness via banning DEI programs and initiatives at YSU and other universities across the state.
Sumell and Vopat said they were happy that the contracts were approved prior to the first day of classes Aug. 24.