YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - As Youngstown State University ramps up for the start of a new year, the lack of a new faculty contract still hangs over the campus.

However, the chief negotiator for the union said the faculty has not taken even the first step toward a work stoppage.

"As of right now, the faculty has not taken an authorization vote. All the instructors, all the faculty will be there on the opening day of the academic year, there will be no pickets. None have been planned, none have been discussed and the academic year will begin as scheduled," said Dr. Gabriel Palmer Fernandez.

In a memo to department chairs, YSU's chief negotiator said the union negotiator refused to meet on two dates prior to start of classes saying, "We see no reason why these talks need to linger past the start of the fall semester."

Palmer-Fernandez has agreed to later dates for bargaining sessions, "Right now, we have one negotiating session scheduled with the federal mediator on September 2nd, and the faculty has agreed to meet and is prepared to meet with the administration team and the federal mediator on August 26th."

Palmer-Fernandez is hoping those two meetings will happen and produce an agreement.

"There's a very good chance that the remaining issues, about five or six, will be closed up, we will have a tentative master agreement by the (Sept.) second, or so, and then we'll present it to the faculty for ratification," said Palmer-Fernandez.

On Friday, the contract expires for the classified union employees at the university. The contract covers more than 300 workers including secretaries and other office staff, librarians and grounds keepers.

There's been no statement on the status of negotiations, but unconfirmed reports indicate there may be an agreement on a contract extension.