YOUNGSTOWN — Officials of a striking faculty union report that significant progress has been made in the negotiations Monday between Youngstown State University and the Youngstown State University-Ohio Educational Association negotiators.

“The two sides met for about three hours, and I am pleased to report there have been significant movement,” Mark Vopat, a spokesman with the union said shortly after the two sides ended discussions Monday. “We will begin talks again at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Those talks are scheduled to last until about 4:30 p.m., but may be extended, if there is a chance the dialogue will lead to a resolution.”

Vopat described the discussions having been ongoing for months, but this is the closest to a resolution they have been.

“I am optimistic,” he said.

Negotiations continued from 1 through 4 p.m. Monday. Neither YSU’s administration nor the YSU-OEA would detail those issues that still separate the two sides.

The latest economic proposal includes a 3 percent pay raise over the course of the three-year contract, with no raise in the first year, according to Ron Cole, YSU’s spokesman.

There will be a one percent pay raise in the contract’s second year, with lecturers / senior lecturers, assistant professors receiving $1,000 lump-sum payments. Associate and full professors will also receive $750 lump -sum payments in the second year.

There will be a 2 percent income increase in the contract’s third year.

In addition, faculty contributions to health insurance premiums would remain the same for the first two years, increasing from 15 to 18 percent in the third year. This is the same health care plan agreed to in a tentative agreement with the university’s classified staff union last week.

“We’re encouraged by the progress made today and are optimistic that YSU-OEA is moving closer to a tentative agreement on a fair contract for our members,” YSU-OEA President Steven Reale said.

Approximately 100 members of YSU-OEA were picketing different locations around the YSU campus throughout the first day of the strike. However, because university already was scheduled to be closed on Monday and today, the strike has not affected classes, which will resume Wednesday.

Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel in a pre-recorded message told students classes are expected to resume Wednesday regardless whether the 337-member faculty union are still on strike or not.

Strike information has been placed on the university’s Webpage:

— Students will have full access to Blackboard and necessary educational material.

— Clinical experiences, teaching, and internships will continue without interruption. Students may refer questions to their department chair.

— The university plans to remain open during the strike. Youngstown State will operate under normal hours of operation and class schedule. All graduate assistants, graduate research assistants, graduate assistant interns, teaching assistants and student employees are to come to work as scheduled and continue to work

— Activities will be open and available to students for research and scholarly work.

This is the first faculty strike since 2005, when it held a one-day strike — that like 2020’s strike — began on a day when there were no student classes taking place.

“The strike was settled without affecting student classes,” Vopat said.

Although the union’s leadership is hoping this also will be a short strike, Vopat describes there is a low-interest loan program that members can apply for if it continues for weeks or months at a time.

rsmith@tribtoday.com