Editorials
Tuesday, September 2, 1997THE state economy dodged a bullet when a carpenters' strike was averted. An industry-wide walkout was the last thing Hawaii needed, with a weak economy that has squeezed many residents while struggling to achieve a healthier rate of growth. The settlement Sunday gave both labor and management something to celebrate on Labor Day. Carpenters strike
faced steep oddsAlthough terms were not disclosed, Carpenters Union leader Walter Kupau said the pact deals with three issues of greatest concern to his members: wages and benefits, job preservation and subcontracting of union jobs to nonunion mainland firms.
With about half of the state's carpenters unemployed, it is difficult to understand what possessed the union leadership to even consider a walkout. Compounding the union's problems was a declaration by the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents 15 unions and 20,000 workers, that it would not support a carpenters strike. Ben Saguibo, one of three trustees of the council, charged that Kupau has taken work away from the members of other unions and "doesn't care about other working people."
With that emphatic repudiation, and much of the Carpenters Union membership jobless, a carpenters strike could have been suicidal.
AMONG the millions of Americans who have been enjoying vacations lately is President Clinton. We don't begrudge the president a vacation. But there are legitimate questions about this particular one -- as well as two others in previous years. Clinton's vacations
The president, his wife and his daughter have stayed at no charge at the posh Martha's Vineyard estate of a multi-millionaire developer. Clinton's host is Richard L. Friedman, a Boston developer and Democratic Party donor. Friedman has applications pending on a gambling casino and on two major hotel projects touching on federal landsthat could add substantially to his wealth.
The White House counsel's office says no law specifically prohibits a president from taking such a vacation. But that doesn't mean that it's proper for Clinton to do so. He ought to find ways to relax that do not put him in such a compromising position. By the way, what's wrong with Camp David?
BORIS Yeltsin's surprise declaration that he will not seek a third term as president of Russia when his current term expires in 2000 leaves the field wide open for a successor. Yeltsin won't run
Yeltsin's health has been a concern for much of his presidency but has visibly improved since he underwent heart surgery last year. Presumably his health is not a factor in his decision.
Among the possible successors being mentioned are Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, First Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, former general Alexander Lebed and Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov. But the election is three years away and it is entirely possible that a new figure will emerge.
Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor
