Teachers offered raise of 9.56% over 2 years
By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Education Writer
Hawai'i's public school teachers would see average salary increases of 9.56 percent over the next two years under a proposed new contract that lawmakers said would cost state taxpayers approximately $97.5 million.
The tentative deal between the state and the Hawai'i State Teachers Association would also set monthly premiums for a Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association Trust, through which the union would purchase health benefits for its members.
HSTA operated such a trust before and has lobbied hard for its return since lawmakers voted in 2001 to create a single state-run health plan for public employees. The Legislature has been debating whether to allow a new VEBA trust and appears poised to approve one.
The new contract would raise the base of the salary schedule by 11.09 percent a sizable boost for new teachers and would grant across-the-board raises of 3.5 percent in July and 2 percent next year, according to a copy obtained by The Advertiser.
The agreement also would move some teachers up to higher pay scale steps, and includes additional raises for some steps.
HSTA executive director Joan Husted declined to comment on details of the contract before teachers vote on it Thursday. But she said she is confident that it is a good deal.
"It's a very good agreement, and we believe the Legislature will fund it," she said. "We're pleased with it. It was unanimously recommended by our bargaining committee and board of directors, so that should send a pretty strong signal of how good we think it is."
The state also has reached a tentative settlement with the United Public Workers union, which represents 11,000 blue-collar workers. Lawmakers have been told that those raises would cost $30.9 million over two years.
The state's 13,000 teachers began receiving copies of their proposed contract yesterday, and several said they planned to review it closely before voting.
Randy Myers, a teacher at Sunset Beach Elementary, said he was hopeful but cautious. Past experiences with the state Department of Education and HSTA have made him leery, he said.
"I don't trust the DOE, as a veteran teacher, nor do I trust the union on this until I really explore the details on it," Myers said. "I am suspicious when there's such a quick turnaround on the ratification. They've done this with previous contracts, where the union's out there just beating the drum and rallying the forces and giving statements about how wonderful this is and everything. And I hope it is, but I'm not so sure."
Rexann Dubiel, another Sunset Beach teacher, also said she needs time to review the deal.
"I'll just wait and see what the details are and whether it really does benefit us," she said. "We just need time to look it over and make sure that everything's equitable."
Under the current contract, starting pay for teachers is about $36,000 per year, and the average salary is $44,000.
The contract offers far more than the 1.5 percent annual raises that the state initially offered, but significantly less than the 15 percent HSTA sought.
Thomas E. Stuart, a teacher at Kohala Middle School on the Big Island, said he was pleased with some of the contract's provisions but hadn't had much time to scrutinize it.
"Speaking for myself, I am pleased to see teachers especially teachers on the lowest rungs of the pay ladder will be getting a much-needed increase," he said. "Many of them make ends meet in these high cost-of-living islands with considerable difficulty."
Stuart said he doubted that the contract would have much impact on the state's chronic shortage of teachers, however.
"I don't believe this or any other possible contract settlement dealing with pay will of itself resolve the teacher shortage problem," he said.
That will take far bigger changes in the way curriculum and other responsibilities are managed, Stuart said.
Several lawmakers described the proposed contract as fair, but not fabulous.
"I frankly think teachers deserve more," said state Rep. Roy Takumi, D-36th (Pearl City Palisades), chairman of the House Education Committee.
State Sen. Norman Sakamoto, D-15th (Waimalu, Airport, Salt Lake), chairman of the Senate Education and Military Affairs Committee, said teacher pay appears to be "going in the right direction."
Lawmakers have considered several incentives to improve teacher retention and reduce the state's teacher shortage, and will find out this week if there is enough money in the budget to pay for them.
HSTA negotiated a retroactive two-year contract settlement last year that provided raises of 4 percent to 7 percent. The union went on strike for three weeks in 2001 before reaching a deal that gave teachers raises totaling 18.5 percent over two years. That contract was later extended for a year.
Staff writer Derrick DePledge contributed to this report. Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.