Faculty union at UH sets strike vote
By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer
A strike authorization vote has been set for March 30 and 31 by the University of Hawai'i Professional Assembly, with the faculty union citing a lack of progress in salary negotiations with the state and giving formal notice of its intent to strike as early as April 5.
The UHPA action comes less than three years after a 13-day faculty strike paralyzed the university and jeopardized an entire semester for thousands of students.
The union seeks raises of 6 percent retroactive for this fiscal year and 8 percent next as well as increases of 4 percent in the base salary for those holding the rank of full professor or the equivalent as of July 1, 2004.
Salaries in the system range from $35,000 to $106,000, excluding merit increases and depending on classification and rank.
J.N. Musto, chief negotiator and executive director of the 3,200-strong University of Hawai'i Professional Assembly, filed an official "notice of intent to strike" yesterday with the Hawai'i Labor Relations Board.
Musto also notified Gov. Linda Lingle, the Board of Regents and university president Evan Dobelle of the 10-day advance notice of the intent to strike required under Hawai'i law.
Musto said he has spoken to federal mediator Carol Catanzariti, asking for help in scheduling a meeting with state negotiator Ted Hong, who is also a member of the UH Board of Regents.
"Negotiations have been at an impasse for almost a year," Musto said.
Last spring the state and UHPA agreed to a settlement covering all other issues, but left salary unfinished until this year because of the state's fiscal picture.
Though the two sides were meeting last fall, no salary agreement has been forthcoming.
Hong could not be reached for comment on yesterday's union action.
Last spring's agreements covered health benefits, a reduction in course load for community college faculty, extension of family leave from four weeks to four months, stricter guidelines to protect and support faculty teaching distance-learning courses, and the granting of multiyear contracts to faculty not seeking tenure.
Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.
