Updated at 5:05 p.m., Monday, April 9, 2001
Teachers union says negotiations resume tomorrow
By Jennifer Hiller and Alice Keesing
Advertiser Education Writers
The union representing Hawai'i's public school teachers says they will be back at the table tomorrow, the first time talks over a new contract have taken place since negotiations broke off Wednesday and teachers walked off the job the next day.
A federal mediator is trying to set up a meeting
between the state and the University of Hawai'i Professional Assembly. J.N. Musto, UHPA executive director, asked the state's chief negotiator today for a meeting.
Meanwhile, all schools remained closed today, including Laupahoehoe High School, where seniors initially were scheduled to attend classes. A school teacher who planned to supervise the students decided against crossing the picket lines.
The continuing walkout by Hawai'i's 13,000 school teachers has sent thousands more parents in search of child care.
"We're definitely busier today than we were Thursday and Friday, but it still hasn't been overwhelming," said Jane Kienutske at the Windward YMCA, which had as many as 45 children today, compared with about 35 on Friday.
Kama'aina Kids also noticed a small increase.
"We've had a lot of walk-ins sign up at all of the sites," said Sheryl Winterbottom at Kama'aina Kids. "We figured lots of parents would wait to see what happened over the weekend."
The state's chief negotiator, Davis Yogi, would not confirm when talks will resume, saying only that negotiations will resume "soon."
The state is also said to be talking to university professors, who entered their third day on the picket lines today.
