Updated at 2:09 p.m., Saturday, April 28, 2007
UPW workers ratify new contract
Advertiser Staff
Some 12,000 blue-collar, correctional and health workers have overwhelmingly ratified a new contract, which calls for a wage increase and random alcohol and drug testing.Under the agreement, the United Public Workers (UPW) members will get a 4 percent wage increase in July and a second 4 percent increase in July 2008. Workers will also get step increases.
The total cost of the package is $45 million.
At a news conference this afternoon to announce the contract ratification, Gov. Linda Lingle said the union was "brave" to approve a contract that calls for random drug and alcohol testing.
"The policy is about making sure the public is safe," Lingle said. "It's about helping those few who do have alcohol or drug problems."
Some 94 percent of workers in bargaining unit one, which covers 9,000 blue-collar workers, approved the contract. Bargaining unit 10, which includes healthcare and correctional workers, ratified the contract with 96 percent of members voting in support.
Union leaders said the drug testing would be administered by individual employers. The costs of the drug testing are not yet clear. Union members have already agreed to "reasonable suspicion" drug testing.
