Posted on: Saturday, May 7, 2005
Lingle objects to union restrictions
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By Derrick DePledge
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday she has problems with a bill that would require government to negotiate with labor unions over the impact of transferring or laying off public workers.
The governor would not say whether she would veto the bill, which was approved by the Legislature last week. "That kind of approach is a problem for anybody trying to use the resources, in this case taxpayer resources, as effectively as possible," Lingle told reporters.
Lingle, a former Maui mayor, said government should have the ability to move public workers to meet community demand, citing, for example, the need to provide services to respond to population growth in Kapolei. "So to restrict in any way the ability to provide the best services to the people at the lowest cost is not a good idea," the governor said.
The bill was drafted after a state Supreme Court decision which found that Honolulu had the right to transfer 10 Pearl City refuse workers to the Honolulu base yard after the city moved to automated refuse trucks. The United Public Workers union had argued that the city should have to negotiate the transfers.
Labor unions asked lawmakers to pass the bill to help balance the power between government and unions.
Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
