Counties' authority on unions rejected
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
The House Labor Committee put a major kink in one of Gov. Linda Lingle's State of the State platform issues yesterday, voting 7-2 to shelve a bill that would give the counties the authority to negotiate contracts individually with government employee unions.
Lingle, the only former mayor ever to become governor, made it known during her address to the Legislature two weeks ago that giving collective bargaining powers to the counties was a priority.
"State government must recognize that it is time for the counties to shoulder more of their own responsibilities," she said.
House Bill 1196 also would have extended the same negotiating authority to the University of Hawai'i system and the Hawai'i Health Systems Corp.
The dissenting votes on the measure came from two of three Republicans — Mark Moses, R-40th (Makakilo, Kapolei, Royal Kunia), and David Pendleton, R-49th (Kane'ohe, Maunawili, Enchanted Lake). Rep. Brian Blundell, R-10th (W. Maui) voted with the Democratic majority.
The proposal could be revived, particularly because the Senate has yet to hear the proposal in the form of Senate Bill 1355. But yesterday's vote sent a strong signal that lawmakers stand ready to rebuff the governor.
Proponents say that collective bargaining is a basic principal of home rule and that the state should not have the de facto ability to negotiate for the counties. In collective bargaining decisions, each of the four counties have one vote while the state has four.
Opponents, which include some of the key state employee unions, say the measure eliminates the "equal pay for equal work" doctrine and promotes competition for workers among the counties.
House Labor Chairman Marcus Oshiro, D-39th (Wahiawa), said, "Passage of this bill would exacerbate existing problems and create additional burdens on the jurisdictions, especially the Neighbor Island counties."
Oshiro said he was particularly bothered that no testimony was received from the counties of Hawai'i or Kaua'i.
The City and County of Honolulu and Maui County submitted testimony in favor of the measure.
Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris has long sought collective bargaining powers and repeatedly has mentioned that the city wants to increase pay for its police officers, many of whom have been leaving for higher pay on the Mainland.
A representative for the State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers, however, argued that the bill would not be in the best interest of its officers.
"House Bill 1196 would be disruptive to the morale of our police officers because officers would be paid differently based on the economic situation of their jurisdictions," said SHOPO legislative co-chairman Emory J. Springer.
Leaders of both the Hawai'i Government Employees Association and the Hawai'i Fire Fighters Association also testified in opposition.
"The counties, as well as the UH and HHSC, lack the financial resources and revenue base to be wholly responsible for their own collective bargaining," said Randy Perreira, HGEA deputy executive director.
Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
