The Mat-Su Borough School District teachers have been working without a contract for over eighteen months and are unhappy with recent developments in the negotiating process.
The Mat-Su Education Association represents teachers in the district and since the spring of 2019, they have chosen to continue negotiations rather than strike to secure an agreement.
However, this week the MSEA expressed anger at the Mat-Su School Board and the Superintendent, Randy Trani, for what they say is disrupting the bargaining process.
Last week, the Mat-Su Borough School Board made a “last, best offer” in contract negotiations to the Mat-Su Education Association Bargaining team. But, according to the MSEA, rather than wait for the Education Association to discuss the proposal with its members, the Superintendent contacted teachers individually with terms of the contract and published editorial pieces in major news outlets with his opinion.
Dianne K. Shibe, President of the Mat-Su Education Association said, “There is a lot of frustration, anger, and disappointment among our members right now. To be treated this way while also navigating teaching during a pandemic is salt in the wound.”
If the school board stands firm and will not continue to bargain, the Mat-Su Education Association says it will move forward with a strike vote of all MSBSD certificated employees.
“A strike vote is the last and least desirable option we have left,” said Shibe. “I know every single member would rather be working with students and doing the best they possibly can under these circumstances, but we will exercise our rights to secure a contract that is actually fair to our educators.”
The MSEA bargaining team said that, while a strike vote may become necessary, they remain committed to finding a contract solution as a first option.
