Juneau teachers’ union authorizes strike ‘if necessary,’ leaders say negotiations with district are continuing

92% vote in favor of step toward a walkout as contract dispute remains unresolved after more than a year, according to Juneau Education Association

Teachers protest at the turnoff on Riverside Drive to Thunder Mountain Middle School on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

Juneau teachers voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike if 13-month-old contract negotiations remain at an impasse, the Juneau Education Association announced Wednesday evening.

"The strike authorization vote was held on March 16th and 17th, with 92% of the bargaining unit voting in favor of authorizing a strike if necessary," notes a press release by the union representing about 275 teachers and certified staff in the Juneau School District.

"The strike authorization vote does not automatically mean a strike will occur," the release adds. "Negotiations between JEA and the Juneau School District are ongoing."

Superintendent Frank Hauser, when asked about the significance of the vote, referenced JEA’s statement that negotiations are continuing and said the progress of those discussions is confidential. School board president Britteny Cioni-Haywood called the vote "a continued motion in a direction that they've already initiated," but the hope remains an agreement will be reached soon.

The Juneau Board of Education last Tuesday passed a roughly $81.5 million budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 that has a projected $5.3 million deficit. However, the district is expected to have a $7.8 million fund balance to cover the shortfall as well as any added costs stemming from the teacher contract negotiations.

Negotiations began in February 2025 and an impasse was officially declared last July, when the JEA terms were expected to increase the budget by $1.84 million and the district’s offer by $673,127.

The JEA release states the key issues of dispute are "competitive wages that keep up with the high cost of living in Juneau," "affordable health care," "adequate preparation time for teachers to effectively support student learning," and "anti-violence and safety language."

Mediation talks between JEA and district administrators have occurred three times since Friday, Cioni-Haywood said. The Juneau Board of Education is scheduled to meet in executive session at 1 p.m. Thursday to discuss collective bargaining, the latest in a multitude of such sessions they have had in recent months.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.