YOUNGSTOWN - Youngstown State University and its faculty union have reached a tentative contract agreement. 

The tentative agreement announced Thursday for the YSU-OEA faculty union includes no pay raise in the first year and two percent raises in both the second and third year. Contributions to health insurance premiums will stay the same for the first two years of the contract and increase from 15 to 18 percent in the third year.

The tentative agreement will now go before the YSU Board of Trustees and the union membership for ratification. Those votes are expected over the next several days, according to the university. 

Union spokesperson Dr. Mark Vopat agreed, saying the entire process should be finalized within the next week or so. Vopat said most of the union's key issues were ironed out like choosing department heads and programs, intellectual property rights and healthcare. He does believe the union members will be in favor of the new contract. 

The union ended a three-day strike Thursday morning over the contract dispute.