The purpose of the Youngstown State University Chapter of the Ohio Education Association shall be to promote the professional interests of the faculty of Youngstown State University and of higher education through collective bargaining and other appropriate means.
YSU-OEA was established in 1972. Its contract was the first master agreement covering a faculty in Ohio public higher education.
This is a history of YSU-OEA published on its 25th anniversary by Tom Shipka.
This labor history was one of the reasons why three YSU professors (Mandy Fehlbaum, Cryshanna Jackson Leftwich, and Mark Vopat) led the referendum petition effort against SB 1 in 2025 and established the Labor Education and Diversity PAC.
Youngstown State University has three locals, all a part of OEA: YSU-OEA (faculty), YSU Association of Classified Employees (YSU-ACE), and YSU Association of Professional/Administrative Staff (YSU-APAS). YSU-OEA stands in solidarity with these other unions.