YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State University-Ohio Education Association met with its membership Thursday, then opened its strike vote — which will close at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The union and university administration have another negotiation meeting scheduled for 3 to 5 p.m. today.

On Wednesday, the parties met but could not overcome differences toward a new three-year faculty contract.

The faculty union in a statement said, “Ongoing contract issues with YSU administration have stalled. The parties exchanged proposals but were too far apart to make meaningful progress.”

Even if the union members give authorization by Saturday for a strike, YSU-OEA may decide to delay its start until a later date.

The university’s board of trustees voted earlier to reject a fact-finding report. YSU President Jim Tressel previously stated the university’s leadership has several objections to the recommendations included in the report in light of the financial challenges of the institution.

The union in a near unanimous vote last week accepted the recommendations in the report, which included increases in salaries over a three-year period totaling 6 percent, according to the report.

The faculty union has 337 members.

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