Press Release: FNSBSD and FEA/ESSA Negotiations on Pause | May 24, 2022

Date: May 24, 2022

Subject: FNSBSD and FEA/ESSA Negotiations on Pause

FAIRBANKS - The District has been negotiating contract proposals with both the Fairbanks Education Association (FEA) and the Education Support Staff Association (ESSA) since February 2022. The District and the associations have not finalized a successor agreement and will continue negotiations in August 2022.  

FEA and the District have made progress toward a successor agreement. There are still several items yet to be agreed upon, including salary, health care and preparatory time. The sessions have included good dialogue on the priorities and needs for both the District and FEA. Beyond the initial proposals, no counter proposals regarding salary and health care have been exchanged at this point.

ESSA and the District have made minimal progress toward a successor agreement.  While the sessions have been productive, progress has been stalled by the cancellation of negotiation sessions by ESSA, and an unwillingness to meet since March 30, 2022.  

As successor agreements have not been finalized, the District will continue to operate under the provisions in the current respective contracts, which are set to expire on June 30, 2022.

FEA is the local bargaining unit that serves over 900 teachers in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. FEA is affiliated with the National Education Association and NEA-Alaska.

ESSA is the local bargaining unit that represents and advocates for regular education support employees who work for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.

For more information, please contact: Joshua DuVall, Director of Communications, (907) 452-2000 ext.11438, or joshua.duvall@k12northstar.org.