Alaska Statutes
Alaska Stat. § 23.40.200 (2026)
Classes of public employees; arbitration
✓ current as of July 2026
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Sec. 23.40.200. Classes of public employees; arbitration.
(a) For purposes of this section, public employees are employed to perform services in one of the three following classes:
(1) those services which may not be given up for even the shortest period of time;
(2) those services which may be interrupted for a limited period but not for an indefinite period of time; and
(3) those services in which work stoppages may be sustained for extended periods without serious effects on the public.
(b) The class in (a)(1) of this section is composed of police and fire protection employees, jail, prison, and other correctional institution employees, and hospital employees. Employees in this class may not engage in strikes. Upon a showing by a public employer or the labor relations agency that employees in this class are engaging or about to engage in a strike, an injunction, restraining order, or other order that may be appropriate shall be granted by the superior court in the judicial district in which the strike is occurring or is about to occur. If an impasse or deadlock is reached in collective bargaining between the public employer and employees in this class, and mediation has been utilized without resolving the deadlock, the parties shall submit to arbitration to be carried out under AS 09.43.030 or 09.43.480 to the extent permitted by AS 09.43.010 and 09.43.300.
(c) The class in (a)(2) of this section is composed of public utility, snow removal, sanitation, and educational institution employees other than employees of a school district, a regional educational attendance area, or a state boarding school. Employees in this class may engage in a strike after mediation, subject to the voting requirement of (d) of this section, for a limited time. The limit is determined by the interests of the health, safety, or welfare of the public. The public employer or the labor relations agency may apply to the superior court in the judicial district in which the strike is occurring for an order enjoining the strike. A strike may not be enjoined unless it can be shown that it has begun to threaten the health, safety, or welfare of the public. A court, in deciding whether or not to enjoin the strike, shall consider the total equities in the particular class. “Total equities” includes not only the effect of a strike on the public but also the extent to which employee organizations and public employers have met their statutory obligations. If an impasse or deadlock still exists after the issuance of an injunction, the parties shall submit to arbitration to be carried out under AS 09.43.030 or 09.43.480 to the extent permitted by AS 09.43.010 and 09.43.300.
(d) The class in (a)(3) of this section includes all other public employees who are not included in the classes in (a)(1) or (2) of this section. Subject to (g) of this section, employees in this class may engage in a strike if a majority of the employees in a collective bargaining unit vote by secret ballot to do so.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of (b), (c), and (d) of this section, the employees with the concurrence of the employer may agree in writing to submit a dispute arising from interpretation or application of a collective bargaining agreement to arbitration.
(f) The parties to a collective bargaining agreement may provide in the agreement a contract for arbitration to be conducted solely according to AS 09.43.010 — 09.43.180 (Uniform Arbitration Act) or AS 09.43.300 — 09.43.595 (Revised Uniform Arbitration Act) to the extent permitted by AS 09.43.010 and 09.43.300 if either Act is incorporated into the agreement or contract by reference.
(g) Under the provisions of (d) of this section, if an impasse or deadlock is reached in collective bargaining negotiations between a municipal school district, a regional educational attendance area, or a state boarding school and its employees,
(1) the parties shall submit to advisory arbitration before the employees may vote to engage in a strike; the arbitrator shall
(A) be a member of the American Arbitration Association, Panel of Labor Arbitrators, or the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service;
(B) have knowledge of and recent experience in the local conditions in the school district, regional educational attendance area, or state boarding school; and
(C) be determined from a list containing at least five nominees who meet the qualifications of this subsection; this list shall be considered a complete list for the purpose of striking names and selecting the arbitrator;
(2) if, under (1) of this subsection, advisory arbitration fails, a strike may not begin until at least 72 hours after notice of the strike is given to the other party; in any event, a strike may not begin on or after the first day of the school term, as that term is described in AS 14.03.030, unless at least one day in session with students in attendance has passed after notice of the strike is given by the employees to the other party.
(a) For purposes of this section, public employees are employed to perform services in one of the three following classes:
(1) those services which may not be given up for even the shortest period of time;
(2) those services which may be interrupted for a limited period but not for an indefinite period of time; and
(3) those services in which work stoppages may be sustained for extended periods without serious effects on the public.
(b) The class in (a)(1) of this section is composed of police and fire protection employees, jail, prison, and other correctional institution employees, and hospital employees. Employees in this class may not engage in strikes. Upon a showing by a public employer or the labor relations agency that employees in this class are engaging or about to engage in a strike, an injunction, restraining order, or other order that may be appropriate shall be granted by the superior court in the judicial district in which the strike is occurring or is about to occur. If an impasse or deadlock is reached in collective bargaining between the public employer and employees in this class, and mediation has been utilized without resolving the deadlock, the parties shall submit to arbitration to be carried out under AS 09.43.030 or 09.43.480 to the extent permitted by AS 09.43.010 and 09.43.300.
(c) The class in (a)(2) of this section is composed of public utility, snow removal, sanitation, and educational institution employees other than employees of a school district, a regional educational attendance area, or a state boarding school. Employees in this class may engage in a strike after mediation, subject to the voting requirement of (d) of this section, for a limited time. The limit is determined by the interests of the health, safety, or welfare of the public. The public employer or the labor relations agency may apply to the superior court in the judicial district in which the strike is occurring for an order enjoining the strike. A strike may not be enjoined unless it can be shown that it has begun to threaten the health, safety, or welfare of the public. A court, in deciding whether or not to enjoin the strike, shall consider the total equities in the particular class. “Total equities” includes not only the effect of a strike on the public but also the extent to which employee organizations and public employers have met their statutory obligations. If an impasse or deadlock still exists after the issuance of an injunction, the parties shall submit to arbitration to be carried out under AS 09.43.030 or 09.43.480 to the extent permitted by AS 09.43.010 and 09.43.300.
(d) The class in (a)(3) of this section includes all other public employees who are not included in the classes in (a)(1) or (2) of this section. Subject to (g) of this section, employees in this class may engage in a strike if a majority of the employees in a collective bargaining unit vote by secret ballot to do so.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of (b), (c), and (d) of this section, the employees with the concurrence of the employer may agree in writing to submit a dispute arising from interpretation or application of a collective bargaining agreement to arbitration.
(f) The parties to a collective bargaining agreement may provide in the agreement a contract for arbitration to be conducted solely according to AS 09.43.010 — 09.43.180 (Uniform Arbitration Act) or AS 09.43.300 — 09.43.595 (Revised Uniform Arbitration Act) to the extent permitted by AS 09.43.010 and 09.43.300 if either Act is incorporated into the agreement or contract by reference.
(g) Under the provisions of (d) of this section, if an impasse or deadlock is reached in collective bargaining negotiations between a municipal school district, a regional educational attendance area, or a state boarding school and its employees,
(1) the parties shall submit to advisory arbitration before the employees may vote to engage in a strike; the arbitrator shall
(A) be a member of the American Arbitration Association, Panel of Labor Arbitrators, or the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service;
(B) have knowledge of and recent experience in the local conditions in the school district, regional educational attendance area, or state boarding school; and
(C) be determined from a list containing at least five nominees who meet the qualifications of this subsection; this list shall be considered a complete list for the purpose of striking names and selecting the arbitrator;
(2) if, under (1) of this subsection, advisory arbitration fails, a strike may not begin until at least 72 hours after notice of the strike is given to the other party; in any event, a strike may not begin on or after the first day of the school term, as that term is described in AS 14.03.030, unless at least one day in session with students in attendance has passed after notice of the strike is given by the employees to the other party.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 16
cases, 1974–2014 · leading case: Anchorage Educ. Ass'n v. Anchorage Sch. Dist., 648 P.2d 993 (Alaska 1982).
Anchorage Educ. Ass'n v. Anchorage Sch. Dist., 648 P.2d 993 (Alaska 1982). “[2] Thus, teachers, who are not "public employees" for purposes of PERA, are not covered by AS 23.40.200. [3] The Anchorage Education Association argues that the above construction renders the term "public school .”
Alaska Pub. Employees Ass'n v. City of Fairbanks, 753 P.2d 725 (Alaska 1988). “The resolution of this case turns on the interpretation of AS 23.40.200. 3 That statute divides public employees into three classes.”
Martin v. Montezuma-Cortez Sch. Dist. Re-1, 841 P.2d 237 (Colo. 1992). “[8] See Alaska Stat. § 23.40.200 (b) (1990) (prohibiting police, fire, correctional facility and hospital facility employees from striking); Haw.”
State v. Pub. Saf. Employees Ass'n, 798 P.2d 1281 (Alaska 1990). “We have not had occasion to address this question, and it is not altogether clear which procedural rules apply to arbitration conducted under AS 23.40.200. The Uniform Arbitration Act (“UAA”), AS 09.”
Alaska Pub. Employees Ass'n v. State, Dep't of Admin., Div. of Labor Relations, 776 P.2d 1030 (Alaska 1989). “III APEA and Local 71 argue that AS 23.40.200 prohibits the state from imposing unilateral contract changes before Class II and Class III employees conduct a strike vote.”
Classified Employees Ass'n v. Matanuska-Susitna Borough Sch. Dist., 204 P.3d 347 (Alaska 2009). “[42] AS 23.40.200(a). [43] AS 23.40.200(b)-(d).”
Proctor v. Andrews, 972 S.W.2d 729 (Tex. 1998). “1997); Alaska Stat. § 23.40.200 (d) (Michie 1996); Akiz.”
Pub. Saf. Employees Ass'n, Local 92 v. State, 895 P.2d 980 (Alaska 1995). “See AS 23.40.200. In the first proceeding, the arbitrator noted that Article XVII Section 3 of the collective bargaining agreement became effective May 16, 1990, per agreement of the parties.”
State v. Pub. Saf. Employees Ass'n, 323 P.3d 670 (Alaska 2014). “”); AS 23.40.200(a)(1), (b). 5 See AS 18.65.130; AS 18.”
Fairbanks Police Dep't Chapter, Alaska Pub. Employees Ass'n v. City of Fairbanks, 920 P.2d 273 (Alaska 1996). “AS 23.40.200(a). APEA represents police employees, who by statute belong to the first class: those employed to perform "services which may not be given up for even the shortest period of time.”
Bd. of Educ. of Cmty. Sch. Dist. No. 1 v. Compton, 526 N.E.2d 149 (Ill. 1988). “, Alaska Stat. §23.40.200 (f) (1984) (“arbitration to be conducted solely according to the Uniform Arbitration Act”); Iowa Code Ann.”
Hafling v. Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pac., 585 P.2d 870 (Alaska 1978). “AS 23.40.200; AS 23.40.215. And finally, to ensure compliance with PERA, the legislature provided that violation of an agency order would be a misdemeanor.”
— Alaska Stat. § 23.40.200(D) — 1 case
State v. Alaska State Employees Ass'n, 190 P.3d 720 (Alaska 2008).
— Alaska Stat. § 23.40.200(a) — 4 cases
Classified Employees Ass'n v. Matanuska-Susitna Borough Sch. Dist., 204 P.3d 347 (Alaska 2009). “[42] AS 23.40.200(a). [43] AS 23.40.200(b)-(d).”
Anchorage Educ. Ass'n v. Anchorage Sch. Dist., 648 P.2d 993 (Alaska 1982). “[2] Thus, teachers, who are not "public employees" for purposes of PERA, are not covered by AS 23.40.200. [3] The Anchorage Education Association argues that the above construction renders the term "public school .”
Fairbanks Police Dep't Chapter, Alaska Pub. Employees Ass'n v. City of Fairbanks, 920 P.2d 273 (Alaska 1996). “AS 23.40.200(a). APEA represents police employees, who by statute belong to the first class: those employed to perform "services which may not be given up for even the shortest period of time.”
Plumbers & Pipefitters, Local 367 v. Mun. of Anchorage, 298 P.3d 195 (Alaska 2013).
— Alaska Stat. § 23.40.200(a)(1) — 4 cases
State v. Pub. Saf. Employees Ass'n, 323 P.3d 670 (Alaska 2014). “”); AS 23.40.200(a)(1), (b). 5 See AS 18.65.130; AS 18.”
State v. Pub. Saf. Employees Ass'n, 798 P.2d 1281 (Alaska 1990). “We have not had occasion to address this question, and it is not altogether clear which procedural rules apply to arbitration conducted under AS 23.40.200. The Uniform Arbitration Act (“UAA”), AS 09.”
Alaska Pub. Employees Ass'n v. City of Fairbanks, 753 P.2d 725 (Alaska 1988). “The resolution of this case turns on the interpretation of AS 23.40.200. 3 That statute divides public employees into three classes.”
Fairbanks Police Dep't Chapter, Alaska Pub. Employees Ass'n v. City of Fairbanks, 920 P.2d 273 (Alaska 1996). “AS 23.40.200(a). APEA represents police employees, who by statute belong to the first class: those employed to perform "services which may not be given up for even the shortest period of time.”
— Alaska Stat. § 23.40.200(a)(2) — 1 case
Alaska Pub. Employees Ass'n v. City of Fairbanks, 753 P.2d 725 (Alaska 1988). “The resolution of this case turns on the interpretation of AS 23.40.200. 3 That statute divides public employees into three classes.”
— Alaska Stat. § 23.40.200(b) — 7 cases
Anchorage Educ. Ass'n v. Anchorage Sch. Dist., 648 P.2d 993 (Alaska 1982). “[2] Thus, teachers, who are not "public employees" for purposes of PERA, are not covered by AS 23.40.200. [3] The Anchorage Education Association argues that the above construction renders the term "public school .”
State v. Pub. Saf. Employees Ass'n, 798 P.2d 1281 (Alaska 1990). “We have not had occasion to address this question, and it is not altogether clear which procedural rules apply to arbitration conducted under AS 23.40.200. The Uniform Arbitration Act (“UAA”), AS 09.”
Alaska Pub. Employees Ass'n v. City of Fairbanks, 753 P.2d 725 (Alaska 1988). “The resolution of this case turns on the interpretation of AS 23.40.200. 3 That statute divides public employees into three classes.”
Classified Employees Ass'n v. Matanuska-Susitna Borough Sch. Dist., 204 P.3d 347 (Alaska 2009). “[42] AS 23.40.200(a). [43] AS 23.40.200(b)-(d).”
Alaska Pub. Employees Ass'n v. State, Dep't of Admin., Div. of Labor Relations, 776 P.2d 1030 (Alaska 1989). “III APEA and Local 71 argue that AS 23.40.200 prohibits the state from imposing unilateral contract changes before Class II and Class III employees conduct a strike vote.”
— Alaska Stat. § 23.40.200(c) — 3 cases
Anchorage Educ. Ass'n v. Anchorage Sch. Dist., 648 P.2d 993 (Alaska 1982). “[2] Thus, teachers, who are not "public employees" for purposes of PERA, are not covered by AS 23.40.200. [3] The Anchorage Education Association argues that the above construction renders the term "public school .”
Alaska Pub. Employees Ass'n v. State, Dep't of Admin., Div. of Labor Relations, 776 P.2d 1030 (Alaska 1989). “III APEA and Local 71 argue that AS 23.40.200 prohibits the state from imposing unilateral contract changes before Class II and Class III employees conduct a strike vote.”
Plumbers & Pipefitters, Local 367 v. Mun. of Anchorage, 298 P.3d 195 (Alaska 2013).
— Alaska Stat. § 23.40.200(d) — 2 cases
Anchorage Educ. Ass'n v. Anchorage Sch. Dist., 648 P.2d 993 (Alaska 1982). “[2] Thus, teachers, who are not "public employees" for purposes of PERA, are not covered by AS 23.40.200. [3] The Anchorage Education Association argues that the above construction renders the term "public school .”
Alaska Pub. Employees Ass'n v. State, Dep't of Admin., Div. of Labor Relations, 776 P.2d 1030 (Alaska 1989). “III APEA and Local 71 argue that AS 23.40.200 prohibits the state from imposing unilateral contract changes before Class II and Class III employees conduct a strike vote.”
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