FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 15, 2020
​Contact: Dianne K. Shibe, President, MSEA 
 msea@mseak.org/907-521-4685 

Mat-Su Education Association Begins Strike Vote 
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PALMER- This morning, the Mat-Su Education Association (MSEA) began a strike vote of all MSBSD employees covered by the MSEA collective bargaining agreement, a result of the Mat-Su School Board’s refusal to return to the bargaining table. 

“We’ve been going back and forth for 18 months,” said Dianne K. Shibe, President of the Mat-Su Education Association, “We’re so incredibly close to reaching an agreement, but the School Board won’t come back to the table and finish the job.” 

A strike vote does not mean that a strike must take place. If the Mat-Su School Board returns to the table and can reach an agreement with the MSEA bargaining team, a strike can be avoided. This vote is a legal requirement which must be completed before an actual strike can take place. The MSEA must give the MSBSD 72-hours’ notice before a strike takes place. 

“Every single member I’ve spoken to would rather have a fair contract than go out on strike, but they are prepared to strike if the Board won’t come back and negotiate,” said Shibe. “We have made concessions, bargained in good faith, and have remained ready to put this behind us. It is now completely on the School Board to do their jobs and settle this contract.” 

Shibe also condemned the MSBSD’s use of District resources to send bargaining information directly to families earlier today. “The email the District sent today is counterproductive, unnecessary, and damaging to our goal of settling this contract. If they really want to put this behind us, as we do, then they would talk to our bargaining team rather than just tell one side of the story to our families.” 

“Our teachers, psychologists, nurses, and everyone else working without a contract in the middle of this pandemic simply want to be respected and valued by the School Board,” said Shibe. “Settling this contract without a strike is our top priority so that we can continue educating our students.”  

The strike vote will be conducted from September 15 to September 18. All certified employees of the MSBSD are eligible to participate. Election results will be counted and certified by the Anchorage League of Women Voters, a neutral third party, next week. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 31, 2020 
Contact: Dianne K. Shibe, President, MSEA 
msea@mseak.org/907-521-4685

Mat-Su Education Association Condemns School Board Tactics 

PALMER- The Mat-Su Education Association strongly condemned the actions of the Mat-Su School Board and Superintendent Randy Trani as devastating to the bargaining process and detrimental to securing a contract for Valley educators. 

Last week, the Mat-Su Borough School Board made a “last, best offer” in contract negotiations to the Mat-Su Education Association Bargaining team. Members of the team believed they would have an opportunity to evaluate the proposal, discuss the terms with its membership, and provide an answer, as well as a counteroffer if necessary. Instead, Superintendent Trani short-circuited the process by contacting every single teacher in the MSBSD with the terms of the contract and published editorial pieces in major news outlets with bias opinions. 

“We have been bargaining in good faith for over 18 months,” said Dianne K. Shibe, President of the Mat-Su Education Association, “These actions erode what little good faith remained between our team and the school board. More than anything, this makes me sad that this new superintendent would blindside the educators he was hired to lead before we even had a chance to work with him.” 

“If these are the tactics and practices we can expect from the superintendent and the school board, we are going to have no choice but to take decisive action,” said Shibe. “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 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, use our collective power, and do everything we can to secure a contract that is actually fair to our educators.” 

The MSEA bargaining team remains committed to finding a contract solution that does not require a strike vote. 
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