Suit filed, as the largest unit in bargaining, ASEA is taking the lead, and the SU board voted last week to be a part of the fight. ASEA’s press release is provided below.

Keep in mind that this could be a long uphill battle, and there is no silver bullet to wage issues. The reality is that wages for Alaska State Employees are decided more at the ballot box than at the bargaining table, as evidenced by these attempts by the current administration to prevent the salary study from being released in time for bargaining, and being manipulated to lower target salaries for most of state workers.

I know that we have a variety of political leanings in our bargaining unit, but one area where I hope we can agree is that we deserve fair wages for the work that we do. We have pro-labor and pro-state worker legislators in both parties (and independents) and in both houses.

I don’t think supporting fair wages is partisan. Regardless of party or other politics, we could be making progress towards fair wages for state workers. Instead, we’re having to file lawsuits just to get information that belongs to Alaskans released to Alaskans.

The press release by ASEA follows:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2025
Press Contact: Samantha Harris, samanthah@afscmelocal52.org

ASEA Files Suit to Compel Release of Statewide Salary Study

The union is seeking Relief through the Alaska Superior Court for multiple violations of the law

Juneau – Today, the Alaska State Employees Association (ASEA) AFSCME Local 52 filed a lawsuit in the Alaska Superior Court to compel the release of the statewide salary study following the Dunleavy Administration’s refusal to release the $1 million dollar study to the public. The union asserts that the administration unlawfully manipulated the study and is now hiding the report from the public. 

Alaska public services continue to hover at the brink of breaking point. The stress placed on Alaskans working for the state is becoming unbearable as recruitment and retention issues continue largely unaddressed. To remedy high attrition and high vacancy rates, the Alaska Legislature appropriated funds for this salary study in legislation signed by the governor in 2023. Segal Company was awarded the contract later that year with the intention that the study be completed and released in the summer of 2024. 

Executive Director Heidi Drygas emphasized “The law requires this Administration to be transparent and share the results of this publicly funded study, and it’s the right thing to do. If we want Alaska to be open for business and we want Alaska to be a premier place to work, we need to be sure that we pay our state employees fairly and competitively. The last thorough analysis was completed over 15 years ago and a lot has changed since that 2009 salary study was published. A successful and thriving Alaska requires a functioning government – and a functioning government needs public employees.”

ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 is an affiliate of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). AFSCME represents more than 1.4 million public service workers across the country. AFSCME Local 52 is the largest union of state and municipal public service workers in Alaska with more than 8,000 hardworking public employees. ASEA members provide essential services that Alaskans rely on every day from everything to licensing and contracting to emergency dispatch and delivering public assistance benefits. ASEA members care for people from all walks of life to ensure they have the services they need to live with dignity and respect. They work everywhere Alaska needs them and keep Alaska running!

TAGS: Salary study; public employees; ASEA; AFSCME; recruitment; retention; wages
Link to PDF of Press Release: ASEA_PR_Salary_Study_Court_Filing_20250215.pdf
Link to Complaint: ASEA_SOA_Salary_Study_ASC_Case_3AN-25-04636CI.pdf