YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - It's been since December 2019 when the Youngstown State University Ohio Education Association Union contract negotiation began. The fact-finder report, which is part of the negotiation process, was rejected by the University and YSU spokesperson Ron Cole said because of finances, the administration cannot adhere to the 6% pay increase the union is asking for.

"The pay raises that are being discussed would cost the University nearly $5-million over 3 years compounded," Cole said.

The administration cites a $3.7-million drop in general revenue and 31 employee layoffs, among other cuts, fearing they could lose more money in the face of the pandemic. 

Meanwhile, YSU-OEA union spokesperson, Dr. Mark Vopat, said it goes further than finances and believes there's a financial misrepresentation led by the university.

"We're in a financial hardship, yet there's expenditures elsewhere that seem to go on," Vopot said, "They no longer have a number of staff members, they've not renewed faculty positions, they've seen number of retirements and even with all that they're claiming a deficit, and our numbers just don't add up."

Vopot said there are additional issues found in the report he feels are alarming, such as the intellectual rights of faculty. 

Although an agreement isn't yet reached, both the administration and the union said they do not want this to affect students and are hopeful a deal will come. The union met Monday late afternoon to vote on a possible strike with results expected Saturday.