By Alice Keesing
Advertiser Education Writer
The teachers union has cast doubt on a new pay offer presented by the state yesterday.
While Gov. Ben Cayetano called the offer a "fair and sound one," the union said it was "just the same amount of money rearranged in a different way."
"It really doesn’t meet our objectives, our agenda for the recruitment and retention of teachers," said Hawai‘i State Teachers Association President Karen Ginoza.
The union is seeking a 22 percent raise over four years, which it says is necessary to attract and retain teachers during a nationwide shortage that is leaving some Hawai‘i classrooms without qualified teachers.
While the state’s overall package remains at about 11 percent, it does target those issues, said chief negotiator Davis Yogi.
"We’re still working hard," he said, but acknowledged: "This is going to be a tough one to pull off."
The new offer contains some "new concepts," Yogi said. Following Cayetano’s call for improving performance in return for a raise, it would reward teachers who seek professional development through national certification. They could earn as much as $5,000 more per year.
"We’ve structured an offer that I think would be attractive to young starting teachers and for teachers who are in the system," Cayetano said. "There will be great opportunities to advance as they improve themselves through personal development."
The state’s offer includes an across-the-board raise for all teachers.
The union had objected to the state’s first proposal in part because it gave smaller raises to more experienced teachers.
Hawai‘i’s teachers earn between $29,000 and $58,000 annually.
Ginoza said yesterday’s offer is a sign the state is willing to keep talking in the deadlocked negotiations. There are plans to sit back down with a federal mediator in a week, she said.
"As long as we keep talking there’s hope for settlement."
The two parties are in a cooling-off period, which ends March 17, after which teachers can walk off the job with 10 days’ notice.
Advertiser staff writer Robbie Dingeman contributed to this report.
[back to top] |
