Governor wants concessions for second-year bonus

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Capitol Bureau Chief

The state is ready to negotiate a second year of bonuses for public school teachers with advanced degrees, but Gov. Ben Cayetano says he expects something in return.

"We are not going to pay a bonus in this year of incredibly large revenue shortfalls if the state does not get something valuable in return, so it's like we are bargaining for a brand-new contract," Cayetano told reporters yesterday.

Last week the Hawai'i Labor Relations Board ruled that the state is obligated to pay a 3 percent bonus to teachers with master's degree and professional diplomas in the first year of the teachers' contract but sent the teachers and the administration back to the bargaining table to negotiate a bonus for the second year.

Cayetano told reporters that the state is in a far more difficult financial position today than last April, when it reached its contract agreement with the teachers to settle a 21-day strike.

The Department of Education is trying to cut its budget by $39 million, so spending $9 million on another year of bonuses would aggravate difficulties, Cayetano said.

In exchange for a new bonus, Cayetano said, the state might seek changes such as a relaxing of the quorum requirement for school/community-based management board meetings.

Karen Ginoza, president of the Hawai'i State Teachers Association, said union negotiators would have to discuss Cayetano's plan to bargain over issues other than the size of the second-year bonus.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.