Actions of labor panel could affect strike plans
| • | UH strike vote begins as gap widens |
| • | New filing angers teachers more |
By Jennifer Hiller and Alice Keesing
Advertiser Staff Writers
After months of wrangling, the impending strikes by both Hawai'i's public school teachers and university professors may lie in the hands of the Hawai'i Labor Relations Board.
The board oversees collective bargaining in the state, and its three members are appointed by the governor.
The board now must rule on formal complaints involving both unions. And until they issue their rulings, strikes that were planned for early April may be delayed.
The latest development resulted from a board ruling that the university faculty cannot strike until its complaints against its employer are settled. That ruling also could affect the public teachers union, which is facing two complaints from the state.
The state has accused the Hawai'i State Teachers Association of not bargaining in good faith and has questioned union plans to photograph anyone crossing the picket line. Deputy Attorney General Francis Keeno said if the union files a strike notice, he will ask the board to prohibit a walkout until the complaints are resolved.
Neither union believes the situation will delay plans to strike in early April.
In an order relating to the faculty union, the labor relations board said it will not permit parties to forestall legal strikes by filing complaints.
The labor board has scheduled a March 28 hearing on the faculty union's complaints surrounding merit pay, staff classification and working conditions.
The HSTA has 10 days to file its response to the state's complaints.
