HGEA members OK vacation, sick leave proposals

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Capitol Bureau Chief

Five of the seven bargaining units of the Hawaii Government Employees Association have ratified agreements that reduce vacation and sick leave for newly hired state and county workers.

The units that approved the agreement account for about 21,000 of HGEA's 24,000 active members.

Randy Perreira, HGEA deputy executive director, said the state has not submitted proposals to the last two bargaining units, which are made up of educational officers with the state Department of Education and nonfaculty workers at the University of Hawai'i.

Despite some "strong feelings" about the issue, Perreira said he expects the last two bargaining units will also ratify the proposal.

"I would anticipate one of theses fine days we'll get a proposal or proposals," he said. "We don't anticipate any great controversy."

The five units finished their voting late Friday with ratification meetings on Moloka'i, Perreira said.

HGEA last year won raises at arbitration ranging from 9 percent to 17 percent. Gov. Ben Cayetano complained the raises were too expensive and threatened to veto the bill that set aside money to pay the raises.

Union leaders countered that the arbitration decision was binding on the state, and said they were prepared to take the issue to court. But Perreira said it might have taken years to get a final ruling in that court case.

Cayetano then proposed reductions in sick leave and vacation for new hires for HGEA that are identical to proposals accepted by the United Public Workers union in negotiations last year. If HGEA agrees to those changes, as well as changes in drug-testing procedures, Cayetano said he would not veto the pay-raise bill.

While the union still believes the arbitration decision was binding, Perreira said, "The governor's proposal allowed us to bring some resolution to this without getting into court."

Under the agreements, new employees would be given 12 days of vacation leave annually, and would work their way up to 24 days after 20 years of service. The current policy provides 21 days of vacation leave annually, regardless of service.

New workers would start with 15 days of sick leave annually. After 20 years of service, they would get 21 days.