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Hawaiian workers Threaten StrikeHONOLULU (AP) - Forty thousand public employees whose four unions have put up a united front are threatening a statewide strike that would paralyze services throughout the islands, from schools and prisons to garbage pickup and nursing care.Even restroom cleaning at busy Honolulu International Airport would be affected.With the strike set for Wednesday, the height of the lucrative tourist season, officials laid contingency plans Thursday to keep some services operating if no agreement can be reached.Money issues have been the major point of disagreement.Gary Rodrigues, director of the 9,800-member United Public Workers’ union, which includes prison guards, licensed practical nursesand blue-collar workers, said Thursday that there was a “50-50 chance” of averting the strike.Gov. George R, Ariyoshi, who was steering state negotiators in in-forma! meetings, indicated “cautious optimism” that a settlement would be reached.But no formal talks have been scheduled, with negotiators for both sides standing by in Honolulu.Besides the United Public Workers, the other unions are the 18,435-member Hawaii Government Employees Association, which represents supervisory, clerical, technical and scientific workers; the Hawaii State Teachers Association, which represents the state’s 9,100 public school teachers; and the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, which includes 2,700 college faculty members.Police and firefighters are not involved in the dispute. But drivers and other employees of Honolulu’sgovernment-subsidized bus operation are at an impasse in separate contract negotiations, and were to hold a strike vote today.After working without contracts for seven months, each of the four unions broke off separate talks with the state last month when deadlocks were reached over wages. Then the unions formed a coalition and said they will settle or strike together.The state says it cannot afford any pay increase the first year of the two-year contracts and only a 2.88 percent increase the second year. The unions have asked for a 7.5 percent hike the first year and 14.4 percent the second.Residents appeared split on the issue. “I’m getting sick of it,” saidDanny Salva. “Same old thing comes up every two years. It’s always happening and the public suffers,”“They’re fighting for something good,” said Buddy Hew Len. i’m a union man. Whatever comes out is for the good of the working people.” ‘i’m sure everything’s going to be in a big mess,” said Jon Yoshimura.“We are willing to talk more on wages and some health benefits,” Rodrigues said.Although a walkout would be legal under the state’s 1970 collective bargaining act, the Hawaii Public Employment Relations Board was continuing round-the-clock hearings on state and county requests to prevent thousands of employees from striking by designating them essential to public health and safety. Aruling was expected Monday.Both sides were trying to work out an agreement to provide for garbage collection if accumulating refuse becomes a health hazard.Teachers have already given students 10 days worth of homework assignments, and the state is recruiting volunteer and substitute teachers in hopes of keeping at least some schools open.The school situation was complicated Wednesday when the state Board of Education fired Superintendent Donnis H. Thompson, criticizing her for a lack of long-range planning and policy.The board made no decision on Ms. Thompson’s request to remain on the job until the strike issue is settled, and scheduled a meeting for Saturday to name an interim superintendent.
Newspaper Details
Farmington Daily Times
Farmington, New Mexico, US
Fri, Feb 17, 1984
Page 17
Full Page
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USA 28 Dec 2019
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