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Work hours of state employees in the Honolulu area could be changed before Christmas to try to ease traffic congestion -- if it can be worked out with their labor union. Work hours for state
employees may changeLee named State Manager of the Year
By Helen Altonn
Star-BulletinGov. Ben Cayetano is considering staggering the starting times for workers in state offices between Hawaii Kai and Kalihi in a pilot project to see if there would be a sizable impact on traffic, said his spokeswoman, Kim Murakawa.
Some workers would start at 7:45 a.m. and others at 8:30 a.m. The normal work hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Murakawa said.
University of Hawaii administrators could be included in the pilot project. However, school hours would remain the same.
Murakawa said Cayetano has the authority to change employees' work hours under a law relating to traffic but the idea is still preliminary. However, Russell Okata, Hawaii Government Employees Association executive director, said hours and other conditions are among matters that must be negotiated under the collective bargaining law.
He said the union isn't adverse to the governor's idea, but Cayetano "at least has to provide the union with a plan," which he hasn't done yet. He was glad to hear school hours would remain the same, saying the union wouldn't support a change in those because "studies show children do better in the early hours. In poorly-ventilated classrooms, they suffer."
Cayetano said he expects complaints, but the change should be tried three to six months to see if it makes a difference, Murakawa said. He headed a similar, smaller project in 1987 when he was lieutenant governor that he said helped to relieve rush-hour congestion. He said it was comparable to having a light-rail system, Murakawa said.
Okata recalled that Cayetano's earlier project involved the union's participation.
"On behalf of the employees we represent, we would be more than willing to sit with the employers," he said. "We have approached them on a number of issues. For instance, flex time and different hours." However, he said many state agencies "have been reluctant to be flexible because of short staff."
Jennifer Lee of the Department of Health has been named State Manager of the Year. Lee named State
Manager of the YearStar-Bulletin staff
Gov. Ben Cayetano last week also named Samuel Lemmo of the Department of Land and Natural Resources as State Employee of the Year. The Hawaii Army National Guard Environmental Team was chosen State Team of the Year, and Cayetano noted the team has won awards from the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of Defense.
All were honored at the state Capitol, along with 15 manager nominees and 19 employee nominees from various departments.
Lee, chief of the Health Department case management and information services branch, regularly deals with services for the developmentally disabled and mentally retarded.
"She has a deep passion and commitment to ensure that each individual client has a quality of life not different from any one of us," Cayetano said. "Jennifer has been able to lead, teach, empower and invigorate her staff and the clients as well," even with budget cutbacks and a 200 percent increase in the number of people seeking services over the past five years.
Lemmo is a land planner who has concentrated on reducing beach erosion.
"Samuel made education and awareness critical components in our strategy to protect Hawaii's shorelines," Cayetano said. "His work benefits our citizens, our economy and virtually every person who experiences our beaches or shorelines."
Also honored was Capt. John Martinez, watch commander, Halawa Correctional Facility. He was commended for his part in defusing a dangerous hostage situation in the facility's medical unit Sept. 20. He calmly directed a response that resulted in successful capture of the inmate and safe release of his hostage.
"He used his training and experience to take control of a potentially volatile situation," Cayetano said. "His clear thinking and preventive actions saved lives that day."
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