CEA files labor complaint

PALMER -- As talks between the Mat-Su Borough School District and its classified employees continue to deteriorate, the union has filed an unfair labor practices complaint.

This week the Classified Employees Association announced it filed a complaint with the Alaska Labor Relations Agency claiming the school district has threatened to fire employees who vote yes on an advisory strike, refused to negotiate in good faith and refused to honor signed agreements, among other allegations.

District officials say the complaint has no merit and is a typical negotiations ploy.

The CEA, representing about 650 teachers' aides, receptionists and custodians, and the school district have not been able to agree to a new contract after months of negotiations, mediation and arbitration.

In its complaint, CEA claims the district has consistently used "bad faith tactics" during the past months, including threatening to withdraw proposals already on the table.

While the allegations are pointed, both sides say the filing is a typical step in labor negotiations of this kind.

"This is not a solution," CEA president Sheila Dickman said. "A solution only comes when the district sits down to the table and resolves these differences in a fair manner."

If the two sides could agree on contract terms, Dickman said the unfair labor practices complaint would be recalled.

"We have filed these complaints to protect our rights and highlight the district's violations of fair labor practices," Dickman said in a prepared statement.

The ALRA will review the complaint and, if the group deems it necessary, it will appoint an investigator to the case. Dickman said the entire process could take anywhere between eight months and a couple of years.

District officials, however, expect the process won't proceed to that point.

"We'll just respond to the complaints with the facts, and we're confident the agency will dismiss the complaints," said Kim Floyd, public information specialist with the district. "This is a bargaining ploy … It has no merit. It is not constructive. It is a waste of resources and time."

Floyd said the filing did not come as a surprise to the district.

"This is part of the normal process. When you get to this point, it is sort of expected," Floyd said.