The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and two employee associations — The Kenai Peninsula Borough Education Association and the Kenai Peninsula Borough Education Support Association — negotiate for a new contract on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019, at the Soldotna High School Library, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and two employee associations — The Kenai Peninsula Borough Education Association and the Kenai Peninsula Borough Education Support Association — negotiate for a new contract on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019, at the Soldotna High School Library, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Threat to union shuts down contract talks

Law enforcement was notified of the threat.

A threat to union leadership shut down a Wednesday contract negotiation meeting between two education employee associations and the school district.

Three calls from a Kenai Peninsula number were made threatening the National Education Association’s office in Anchorage, according to a Wednesday night Facebook post by the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District.

The meeting, which was scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in the Soldotna High School Library, was cancelled “out of concern for safety and protocol,” the school district said.

“This is still an ongoing investigation so we cannot discuss details. The District and Associations will discuss next steps in the near future,” the post said.

The Kenai Peninsula Education Association said on Facebook that law enforcement was notified of the threat, but that they hoped to return to negotiations soon.

“For those wondering what happened today, a threat was made to union leadership. … We’ve asked to continue negotiating as soon as possible, ideally tomorrow,” the post said.

The school district and two employee associations have been unable to reach a contract agreement for a year and a half, with an agreement currently stalled over the cost of health care.

— Clarion staff

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