YOUNGSTOWN — The union representing 350 Youngstown State University faculty members is asking university leaders to suspend contract negotiations and reorganizations for a year, so all can focus on a smooth start of the school year.

“Why should we not pause contract negotiations, reorganizations and unnecessary disruptions, and instead focus our energies on redesigning our courses, recruiting and retaining students, and ensuring a seamless start to our fall 2020 classes?” asked Steven Reale, YSU-OEA president, in a letter to the administration.

The request comes as a result of the coronavirus pandemic as well as the university’s decision to reorganize some of its departments.

YSU in late May announced agreements to cut or furlough staff that could save the university up to $4.8 million over the next school year.

The university is eliminating 22 coaching and administrative positions in its intercollegiate athletics programs, representing a savings of $2 million.

The university and two of its employee unions have agreed to a plan that calls for furloughs resulting in a 10 percent pay cut and a lack-of-work layoff of 69 workers, a savings of at least $2.8 million.

The agreement allows for a voluntary reduction in force under which employees can ask to be laid off June 1 to July 31.

“The YSU-OEA urges the board of trustees to direct the university to pause, to take a step back, to focus on our students, and allow ourselves the time and space to assess the new realities that YSU faces,” Reale said. “There will be plenty of time in the next academic year to address the matters of contract negotiations and reorganizations with the same productive, collaborative spirit that we were witness to in March.”

Ron Cole, a YSU spokesman, said the university does not comment on contract negotiations.

Reale said members were distressed when YSU administration announced what the union termed hastily and unilaterally conceived changes without consultation with the students, faculty and staff whose work lives they will most profoundly affect.

“The proposed reorganization of the university would effectively split linked programs and curricula, drastically reduce support staff and sow chaos in ways we cannot possibly yet predict just when we should be working together to bolster the university so that it may fulfill its mission come fall,” Reale said. “Indeed, the proposed reorganization would compound the uncertainty students and faculty will face over course delivery, contract negotiations, health and safety precautions.”

Although acknowledging the administration’s right to make unilateral decisions, Reale said it is the union’s responsibility to explain that such decisions will limit its ability to effectively serve students. It will create an atmosphere of instability and possibly undermine recruitment and retention efforts at the school, the letter said.