By Alice Keesing
Advertiser Education Writer

Hawai‘i’s public school teachers union says it’s ready to take a strike vote next week. Teachers demonstrated today to build public support for bigger raises.

The union, which represents 12,000 teachers, late yesterday rejected the state’s latest contract offer.

“What it basically comes down to is very much the last offer with a little bit more window dressing,” said Hawai‘i State Teachers Association Executive Director Joan Husted. “It was the same amount of money — $67 million — with no retroactivity and no annual increments. It’s obviously unacceptable to us.”

The union is expecting a large turnout for Wednesday’s vote, when teachers across the state will be asked to authorize a strike. Once a strike is authorized, the union must give 10 days’ notice. Teachers are not expected to walk off the job until the first week of April.

Yesterday was the first time in more than a month that the two parties have officially met. Both sides have agreed to continue informal discussions.

The HSTA is seeking a 22 percent increase over four years. Current salaries range from $29,000 to $58,000.

The state’s offer yesterday averaged 9 percent across the board, according to Husted. She said it did not address the basic issues, including a teacher shortage. The offer also would reduce how much experienced teachers get by about $4,000, so beginning teachers could be paid more, she said.

The governor has said the state can’t afford the same pay raise for everyone, and wants to tie raises to improving performance. It has offered $5,000 a year to reward teachers who gain national certification.

The union’s 12,000 teachers have been without a contract since January. In the last round of contract talks in 1997, they were within hours of striking when a deal was reached. The last statewide teachers strike was in April 1973. It lasted 19 days.