Labor Board gets teachers case

By Alice Keesing
Advertiser Education Writer

Teachers took the first step in what could be a long legal battle yesterday, asking the Hawai'i Labor Relations Board to order the governor to sign their contract and pay for the delay in implementing it.

The Hawai'i State Teachers Association is accusing the state of bargaining in bad faith because teachers have not received pay raises negotiated during April's three-week strike. The dispute centers on a 3 percent bonus for teachers with advanced and professional degrees.

The union filed its complaint yesterday after earlier ruling out another strike. "Going to the Hawai'i Labor Relations Board is really the fastest route in order to get our contract implemented," said HSTA President Karen Ginoza.

Gov. Ben Cayetano has said he will pay the bonus for one year, with a cap of $9.7 million. Ginoza said that is unacceptable and accused the state of stubbornness and a take-it-or-leave-it attitude.

Aside from wanting the bonus paid for two years, the union now wants the state to pay teachers interest on their delayed raises. HSTA attorney Vernon Yu said the interest could be substantial.

Kathleen Watanabe in the attorney general's office would not comment. The state will have 10 workdays to respond to the HLRB, which must hear the case within 40 days.

Cayetano and his staff have said the contract is not binding because the governor still has not signed it. But state law only requires the employees to ratify a contract, said Yu, who will argue that there is a binding contract in place.

On the night of April 24, state and union negotiators agreed to the contract language. The unsigned deal was sealed with a handshake, according to HSTA.

"But this is far beyond a handshake," Yu said. "There is a written agreement."

If the union loses its bid before the HLRB, it could appeal in state court or reconsider another strike, Yu said.

Reach Alice Keesing at akeesing@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.