Public workers
sue city over
privatization

Harris denounces the four
lawsuits as ‘self-serving’

By Linda Hosek
Star-Bulletin

United Public Workers has filed four lawsuits in Circuit Court, asking the court to end specific private contracts with the city, including a major one for the Waimanalo landfill, which receives most of Oahu's waste.

Mayor Jeremy Harris called the suits "self-serving," saying the union's intent to use civil servants in the contracts would increase costs for taxpayers at a time when they can least afford it.

"We will defend our contracts vigorously," he said.

The union yesterday filed the suits, citing a 1997 state Supreme Court decision against the use of private workers in landfills historically run by civil servants.

Justices, ruling on Kono vs. County of Hawaii, found that privatizing landfills was contrary to public policy.

In other suits against the city, the union seeks to resume the use of civil servants for janitorial and building and grounds maintenance, and solid waste pickup, collection and disposal.

UPW also sued the Board of Water Supply, asking the court to order the use of civil servants for automotive and equipment repair.

Waste Management of Hawaii Inc. currently operates the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill.

Harris faulted Gary Rodrigues, UPW's state director, for filing the suits after lawmakers passed the "privatization bill," which protects privatization from union challenges.

It allows the government to privatize services, so long as workers don't lose their jobs as a result.

But Harris also faulted lawmakers for failing to stand up to Rodrigues. He said they left open a window of opportunity to allow the union to challenge private contracts.

"Today, our worst fears have been realized, and Rodrigues has taken advantage of the opportunity the Legislature provided him," he said.

Herbert Takahashi, union attorney, could not be reached for comment.

The suits come at a time of conflict over privatization between the city and union.