YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Youngstown State University president Jim Tressel issued a response Thursday afternoon to the faculty union's announcement that they had authorized an "intent to strike" vote, should they deem one necessary. 

On Wednesday, the  YSU-OEA, which represents 329 faculty members,  announced members had voted to authorize its leadership to issue the notice, which is the first step in a process that could ultimately lead to a strike. 

The union said the authorization was granted to issue an intent to strike notice if contract negotiations were to break down.

If the intent to strike notice were to be issued, a strike vote would still be required and the union stressed that this does not mean a strike is imminent. 

The union has been in contract negotiations with the university, but has said they want to suspend those negotiations until the coronavirus pandemic is brought under control, citing financial uncertainty for schools around the state due to state budget cuts to offset costs related to the virus. 

In the university's statement, Tressel called the union's vote "disappointing." 

"It is disappointing that the OEA leadership would release such a statement at a time that the university is working hard to meet the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic and to ensure the continued operations of the university and success of our students," Tressel said in the statement. 

Negotiations between the faculty and the university, which began in 2019, will go before a fact-finder on July 20, after which a decision will be issued within 14 days. 

YSU is projecting a 15 percent enrollment decline and a 20 percent decrease in state funding, which has led to layoffs and pay cuts. 

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