Two peninsula education associations remain without a contract after a Tuesday bargaining session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School district ended without a labor agreement.
The district offered ideas for a new contract at the meeting, which took place just weeks after the Kenai Peninsula Education Association and Kenai Peninsula Educational Support Association voted to strike.
Although no agreement was made Tuesday, Pegge Erkeneff, communications liaison with the district, said the district hopes to meet with the associations to bargain later this summer.
“The district is open to explore ways to break the impasse, and we hope that the meeting on Tuesday was a step toward a new agreement,” Erkeneff said.
David Brighton, president of the Kenai Peninsula Education Association, said the district presented the associations with two ideas, but no details, dollar amounts or written proposals. He said the associations are considering the ideas, but hope to see formal proposals.
After contract negotiations with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District hit a standstill, peninsula educators and staff voted May 22 to strike, with more than 75% of certified staff voting “yes” on a walkout.
For over a year, contract negotiations between the school district and the education associations have snagged on the rising cost of health care. A previous agreement effective through June 2018 remains in use for employees without contracts.
