With less than three weeks of summer vacation remaining, the Mat-Su Education Association, the union that represents teachers and other employees in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, has approved an agreement with the Mat-Su Borough School Board.
The union had authorized a strike in May if a new contract could not be hammered out.
According to details obtained by Must Read Alaska, the agreement gives teachers a 3% raise and changes terms relating to the health insurance package. The district had offered a 2% raise during negotiations. The new contract will go through 2026.
The new contract was approved by over 72% of those members voting. 27.41% voted against the contract. About 1,030 of the 1,226 union members voted.
MSEA represents 3,400 teachers and support staff and has been without a contract since last year. The teachers’ union, an affiliate of the National Education Association, is suffering from a marked decline in membership since the Janus decision by the U.S. Supreme Court allows public employees to work without having to join a public employee union. Now, more than 35% of all Alaska public employees have opted out of paying the unions that represent them.
The Mat-Su Borough School Board will vote on the agreement on Aug. 2 at its regular meeting. School in the Mat-Su Valley starts on Aug. 15.
