All public schools but one will remain closed on Monday as the state hunkers down for what could be its first full workweek of a potentially devastating teachers strike.
The state and HSTA assess
their options before talks
resume over wide differences
By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin
Class will open for about 20 seniors at Laupahoehoe School on the Big Island.
"We weren't expecting a whole lot," Department of Education spokesman Greg Knudsen said.
While no new contract talks are scheduled, Hawaii State Teachers Association President Karen Ginoza said she spoke to Gov. Ben Cayetano yesterday, and they need to reassess their positions before going back to the bargaining table.
"He's going to explore his options, we're going to explore our options, and so we will keep our doors open and wait for his call," Ginoza said.
The governor said people should prepare for a prolonged strike and that the state will not cave in.
"I think the teachers feel very, very strongly, but we have a responsibility also," Cayetano said. "What people are seeing now are two of the unions representing all the educators in our public schools leveraging the education of our children to get pressure for their pay raises."
Meanwhile, Ginoza said the union will go to court if it has to prevent their striking members from losing their health benefits during the walkout.
"We will fight every legal battle we can to assure that this doesn't happen to our teachers," she said.
The governor considers the teachers on "unauthorized leave" and will not pay the state's contribution toward the health insurance.
"Whenever there is a strike, workers are not compensated because there is no work being done. The teachers who are on strike were put on unauthorized leave by the state and will not be compensated in pay or benefits while they are on strike," said Kim Murakawa, the governor's press secretary.
The teachers union went on strike Thursday after the teachers union rejected the state's latest offer costing $93 million and giving teachers an average 14 percent raise.
Ginoza said the union's offer is about 5 percent per year of a four-year contract. The union says its offer amounts to nearly $200 million.
One of the "roadblocks" to getting talks back on track is a disagreement over whether retroactive wages should be paid. The union says yes; the governor says no.
Less than 200 of the more than 12,000 public school teachers have crossed the picket line.
A lack of manpower is the main reason that more schools will not be opening.
Ginoza was not surprised that schools would not be able to reopen. "We have many schools where we have 100 percent out on the line."
The Department of Education revised its figures from Thursday's 235. Knudsen said the number of teachers actually present on Thursday was 184, while the number went down to 148 on Friday.
Murakawa said that 1,900 HSTA members get their medical through the state health fund, and 8,000 through an HSTA medical plan. "The state's not making the contribution to either plan," she said.
Murakawa said coverage under the state health fund plan expires April 15 for medical, adult dental, vision and drug, and April 30 for children's dental and life insurance.
Union officials said that coverage for the HSTA plan remains 45 days.
Ginoza said the action by the governor has never been taken before when other public-sector unions like the Hawaii Government Employees Association and the United Public Workers went on strike.
"This is strictly punitive. It's showing a disregard for our teachers and a lack of respect," Ginoza said.
"This is not punitive," Murakawa said. "It's logical that if someone is on strike and they're not receiving wages that they also not receive benefits at the cost of the employer. They can opt to continue their health benefits at their own cost."
>> Department of Education strike updates are recorded on an information line at 586-INFO (586-4636) on Oahu. Neighbor island callers can use the following toll-free numbers followed by 6-4636: 974-4000 on the Big Island, 274-3141 on Kauai, 984-2400 on Maui, and 1-800-468-4644 on Molokai and Lanai. The department says that starting Saturday morning, this should include information on school openings for the next school day. Strike hot lines
>> The Hawaii State Teachers Association's strike hot line has recorded updates for the general public on negotiations. Call 833-2711, ext. 300.
>> The University of Hawaii has updated recorded messages on its hot line at 956-4560. Neighbor islanders can call toll-free at 1-866-898-5161.
>> HSTA Web site
>> UHPA Web site
>> State Web site
>> Governor's strike Web site
>> DOE Web site
When the teachers strike started Thursday, Moanalua High School seniors worried they might miss one of the highlights of their high school years: the senior prom. Moanalua High
By Leila Fujimori
prom goes on
Star-BulletinBut their fears were unfounded as the students, decked out in tuxedoes and expensive dresses, partied through the night at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel.
"I was worried we wouldn't have this event," said Bernadette Nuesca, who was crowned the prom queen last night. "It would have been a waste of a lot of money, time and work. I'm glad it all worked out with parents and chaperones to make this event memorable for us."
Vice Principal Bob Eggleston said 25 chaperones, including parents, classified staff and administrators, volunteered to chaperone the event in case of a strike. If there had been no strike, teachers would have been among them.
Still, some teachers were on hand to chaperone.
"They're not here in their teacher capacity," Eggleston said, adding that they came as parents of seniors attending the prom.
The school would have lost thousands of dollars spent to reserve the hotel ballroom a year in advance, he said.
Eggleston said the school administrators did not want to cancel the event because "this is what high school is all about anyway."
Parent Cynthia Gakiya had already bought her daughter's $165 prom dress well before talk of a strike. "I was concerned because I didn't want the dress to go to waste," she said.
Seniors were grateful for the support they received.
"We thank the parents and some teachers and administrators," said Abraham Mautai, a senior at Moanalua, who arrived in a black tuxedo bedecked with a maile and rose lei. "The principal was the one who chose to keep our prom going."
>> HSTA Web site
>> UHPA Web site
>> State Web site
>> Governor's strike Web site
>> DOE Web site
