A strike by Hawaii's public school teachers just about defines a "lose-lose" situation. Obviously the teachers would lose money and Hawaii children would miss part of their education, but more importantly a strike of any length would cost teachers public support and empathy. Strike would cost teachers
public supportRight now public opinion is probably with the union in support of better wages and teaching conditions, but the real reason for the support is so teachers can go about their job of educating our kids.
Although there are some pockets of mediocrity, Hawaii teachers do an amazingly good job in the face of a bureaucracy that at times appears to care more about perpetuating itself than about its mission of replacing ignorance with education.
I've met teachers willing to shelter and feed teens in trouble, I've met teachers who dig into their own pockets for books and supplies, and I've listened to teachers defend their schools and students with a passion that few employers would expect.
But that could all change. If the teachers walk out on the kids, how long will the public put up with the public employee's right to strike?
Across the table, management, which means the state and ultimately us - the taxpayers - will lose as much during a teachers' strike.
What does it say about a state if all the public teachers are on strike? Who wants to live, visit or invest in a community that treats teachers so poorly that they must strike?
Both labor and management, however, are still talking and there is some hope that Gov. Ben Cayetano and his negotiators can fashion a compromise that will allow the Hawaii State Teachers Association to cancel the planned walk-out.
The upper hand remains with the administration, because as Cayetano said last week, the state just doesn't have the money to pay for big raises.
"Whether there is a strike or not, the numbers won't change," he said.
Ironically, while Cayetano is taking a responsible position in labor negotiations, little attention has been paid to the larger picture of how Hawaii is going to avoid future problems.
A good description of those problems appeared in this paper yesterday, as Geoffrey Rapp, a Hawaii grad now studying at Harvard, wrote to explain the problem of many young people.
"The prospect of stringing together a series of part-time jobs to make a living is not appealing. In contrast, mainland companies are knocking on doors of college students, promising lucrative contracts in investment banking and management consulting.
"Future teachers, leaders, doctors and engineers are settling in other places, weakening prospects for Hawaii's economic growth," he wrote.
THE possible teachers' strike, the state's lack of resources to encourage growth at the University of Hawaii, the fears and worries that we don't have enough jobs are all warning signs.
Economists across the state seem to think the Hawaii economy is running about as slow as it can and that things are likely to improve. No one, however, is predicting a boom and no one can point to a growing, diversified, vibrant local economy.
We have a governor who can do his math and isn't afraid to keep the books balanced, but who will answer the pleas of Rapp and others who want to be proud and successful calling Hawaii their home?
