Schools close for 183,000 students

By Alice Keesing
Advertiser Education Writer

Schools are closed across the state today after talks broke down between the state and teachers union yesterday, launching a strike that many predict will have a devastating impact on Hawai'i.

Paul LeMahieu speaks to reporters as Gov. Ben Cayetano looks on during a news conference at the Capitol. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Despite new offers by both sides and a flurry of negotiations this week, it was apparent they were still far apart financially and philosophically when talks broke down last night.

"Even with our latest offer we're nearly a $100 million apart," said Gov. Ben Cayetano. "No amount of overnight negotiations can change that unless there's a revelation on the other side."

Yet while both state and union officials said they are willing to keep talking, both appeared to be waiting for the other to make the first move, and black-and-white "On Strike" signs were posted at Hawaii State Teachers Association headquarters as soon as state negotiators left the building just after 5 p.m.

Public schools around the state are closed today and tomorrow to the more than 183,000 students. Principals at more than 250 schools will assess if they have enough staff to reopen next week if the strike continues. At the same time, more than 3,100 University of Hawai'i faculty are picketing their campuses.

The strikes of the teachers and university faculty promise to paralyze Hawai'i's education system and send shock waves through the entire state.

The strikes have sent parents scrambling for childcare and left senior students wondering about their graduation plans while playing havoc with end-of-the-year activities such as proms and sports competitions.

The strikes could derail efforts to improve Hawai'i's lagging education system. And the teachers' strike promises to further complicate the state's efforts to avoid a federal court take over of the special-education system.

Even though the teachers' strike had become increasingly inevitable, many were shocked when negotiations fell apart yesterday.

"I am deeply disappointed that we were not able to reach agreement, and I just hope that we will be able to resume talks as soon as possible," said Board of Education second vice chairwoman Karen Knudsen, who is worried about the effect on the students and the state.

"First of all there's inconvenience," she said. "But when you get beyond the inconvenience there's the psychological impact that this will have. And I think that that could be probably the most devastating depending on how long the strike lasts because we could start getting into real economic hardships."

Instead of asking, "Will a strike happen?" the new question today is "How long will it last?"

HSTA Executive Director Joan Husted said it's possible talks will not resume until next week. Much depends on how many teachers cross the picket line and if there are enough of them for the Department of Education to reopen schools next week.

"If we have 100 percent of the schools closed, the chances of getting back to the bargaining table faster are good," Husted said. "If 90 or 80 percent of the schools are closed, (the governor) may decide to wait it out. But the teachers are very committed and the governor would be very wise not to pour gasoline on this fire."

The standoff between the two sides has been brewing for months, with the union demanding a 22 percent package that it believes will tackle Hawai'i's teacher-shortage crisis and the governor saying the state does not have the money to give teachers what they want. The governor also has insisted on tying any pay raise to improved performance.

The state did put more money on the table this week, Cayetano said, offering teachers a 14-percent raise with a total cost of $93 million. That kind of pay raise will come at the expense of other state programs, he said.

Union officials said the new offer only amounted to $86 million, with some fringe benefits tacked on. They would not give any details on their last offer, except that it would cost less than $200 million.

With the gap proving too wide to bridge, Cayetano said it's a new ball game today.

"If we go on strike tomorrow, everything's off the table," he said last night. "We start from ground zero because this was an offer that was based on preventing a strike that I thought would be very destructive."

The union also responded angrily to the governor's suggestion that striking teachers will lose their benefits.

Cayetano sent a letter Tuesday to Board of Education chairman Herbert Watanabe and schools chief Paul LeMahieu saying the state attorney general's office believes striking faculty members are on "unauthorized leave of absence without pay."

"Therefore, this is to inform you that in the event of an actual strike, the state will not pay its contributions to the Hawai'i Public Employees Health Fund for employees who participate in a strike," Cayetano wrote. "As a result, striking employees' enrollments in health and life insurance benefits plans will be terminated. This action is nondiscretionary. It is required as a matter of law."

Husted called the governor's position "punitive and unproductive."

"It can only exacerbate the position between the parties, and we ask him to reconsider," she said.

Teachers are bracing for the economic realities of the picket line. Yesterday they picked up their paychecks, not knowing how long it will be before they're paid again. The union does not have a strike fund but is gearing up to help those in the deepest need with grants, interest-free loans or food donations.

"There are bills to pay," said Candace Fukuroku, who teaches first grade at Wailuku Elementary. "I have mixed emotions, but I know I'm going to stand with the other teachers. My only fear is how long."

Teachers yesterday cleaned out their classrooms, handed in their keys and put the finishing touches on their strike signs.

As she waited for the outcome of negotiations, Ka'iulani Elementary teacher Pat Guinther pasted up pink letters on a green picket sign, reading "I'd rather be teaching."

Guinther, who has been teaching since 1967 and remembers the 1973 strike, was faced with many questions from her students yesterday.

She looked out over the sea of third-graders gathering up their books and backpacks.

"I hope I see you tomorrow," she said.

It wasn't to be.

Advertiser Staff Writers Lynda Arakawa, Ronna Bolante, Scott Ishikawa, Christie Wilson and Walter Wright contributed to this report.

HSTA negotiations at a glance

• The union is seeking a 22 percent raise over four years with a price tag of $260 million, but has informally offered to accept a deal worth about $161 million.

• This week, the state increased its offer to 14 percent, at a total cost of $93 million. It ties in accountability and licensure and includes $5,000 extra per year for teachers who gain national certification.

• Teachers currently earn between $29,000 and $58,000.

• The issues: The union says Hawai'i is facing a teacher shortage, and the state needs to improve pay to boost recruitment and retention. The state says its offer does boost pay for new teachers but that it has only a limited amount of money and wants to tie any pay raise to improving performance.

• The Hawaii State Teachers Association represents almost 13,000 public school teachers statewide.

• Hawai'i's teachers' contract expired in June 1999, then was extended to January 2000.

• In the last round of contract talks in 1997, teachers were within hours of striking when a deal was reached. That contract provided a 17 percent increase but added seven days to the school calendar.

• The last time teachers walked off the job was April 1973. That strike lasted 13 days.