Teachers put stamp on $125 million deal

By Alice Keesing
Advertiser Education Writer

Teachers put their strike signs away and returned to their classrooms this morning after an 85 percent vote last night to approve their union's hard-fought contract.

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Proposed settlement Retention incentive of $550 for work in 1999-2000. Retention incentive of $550 for work in 2000-01. September 2001: 2 percent across-the-board increase; step increase of about 3 percent. February 2002: 2 percent across-the-board increase. September 2002: 3 percent across-the-board increase; step increase of about 3 percent. February 2003: 3 percent across-the-board increase. Professional certificate differential of 3 percent. Doctorate class differential of 6 percent. Four instructional days will be converted to professional development days. As part of the return-to-work deal, there will be no deduction in teachers' summer pay because of the strike. Teachers will be paid if they are recalled to redo education plans for special-education needs, and the state will pay its share of the health benefits incurred during the strike. Source: HSTA

The Hawaii State Teachers Association set up 14 voting sites around the state yesterday for teachers to have their say on the deal that gives most of them 18 percent over four years.

"That's a wonderful turnout," said HSTA Executive Director Joan Husted. "What the vote clearly represents is an overwhelming acceptance of the contract. I think it also says that some were upset that the (senior teachers) didn't get as much money as others and also there was some sentiment that if we'd held out and were tougher we might have gotten a little bit more."

The deal came after days of tough bargaining. At one point it appeared the two sides were unable to end the deadlock, but a breakthrough came Thursday when they agreed on a retention bonus in exchange for retroactive pay.

With that barrier broken, the two sides traded money offers back and forth before striking a deal late Monday night.

Traffic around the Stan Sheriff Center yesterday afternoon was more congested than before a Wahine volleyball game as thousands of teachers arrived to look over the 10 pages of their new contract and cast their vote.

"I think it's the best agreement we could have gotten out of what we put into it," said Castle High teacher David Milks.

"I think this goes a long way to restoring the faith we have in the HSTA as a union," he added, referring to the 1997 contract that left many teachers feeling the union had sold out. Teachers received a 17 percent raise that year, but had to work an additional seven days.

Retroactive pay not granted

Of the state's 10,787 public-school teachers, 9,208 voted at the Stan Sheriff Center yesterday to approve the deal reached Monday night between the state and the Hawaii State Teachers Association. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

"It's better to have a teacher that is well-trained and better skilled, even if we lose four days," Gov. Ben Cayetano said.

As a hint of the rankling that still lingers beneath the settlement, both the governor and the union claim they put that idea on the table.

What became apparent during yesterday's ratification vote was that the toughest issue for the negotiators during talks was the biggest negative for some teachers in the final deal.

Instead of retroactive pay for the two years teachers worked without a contract, they will receive a $1,100 "retention incentive."

Both sides claim victory on that point.

"We knew Cayetano wouldn't go for retroactivity, so they just came up with another word," said Peggy Anderson, a physical education teacher at McKinley High. As a senior teacher, Anderson will not receive as much money as her younger colleagues, but she believes the contract is "wonderful."

Waipahu High teacher Dennis Hansen doesn't agree. He stood at the entrance to the Stan Sheriff Center yesterday holding a cardboard sign over his head: "Just Say No."

"This means I'm not absolutely happy about the lack of real retroactivity," he said. "I bought into the leadership's claim that we would get retroactivity of 2 percent for the first two years of the contract, and instead I'm getting a bonus of less than 2 percent."

The incentive bonus is cheaper for the state because it is not built into the base salary. However it does count toward a teacher's retirement benefits.

Strike called 'textbook'

Smiles were on the faces of all the key players at a press conference yesterday at the State Capitol. Despite that, some teachers expressed disappointment about not receiving retroactive pay for the two years they worked without a contract. Instead, they will get $1,100 retention incentives. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

"Don't work another two doggone years without a pay increase and expect to get one after the fact," he said.

However, the majority of teachers at the Stan Sheriff Center yesterday said they were pleased with the contract and relieved to be getting back to work after 13 days marching the picket lines.

Throughout the strike, 99 percent of teachers turned out on the picket line in an overwhelming show of solidarity.

"It was a textbook strike," said Husted.

Even Husted was surprised at the low number of teachers crossing the line.

"I couldn't believe the numbers," she said. "After missing a pay check on Friday, you would have thought we would have lost 200 to 300 teachers. But we didn't."

Happy it's over

Teacher Rachel Kerr of Kane'ohe prepares to vote as her two children wait in a carriage at the Stan Sheriff Center. Thousands of teachers reviewed the 10-page contract before voting yesterday. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I think we're all happy it's over," he said. "I think some think that because we were on strike for 13 days and lost about $3,000 in salary it would have been nice to get more than $1,100. But still to get it is a victory and now the kids can get back to school."

Husted, who has been the union's chief negotiator for years said she'll be sticking to her role as HSTA executive director from now on.

"This is my last one," she said. "The next one gets bargained by someone else.

The other negotiators will barely have time to catch their breath before they start again. The next contract will be up for discussion as early as September.

Staff Writer Scott Ishikawa contributed to this report.