Pay-freeze case nearing end

Star-Bulletin staff

As both sides finished presenting evidence on whether government employees should be subject to a pay freeze, Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall yesterday set 9:30 a.m. Thursday to hear closing arguments.

The pay freeze was imposed on state and county employees by the Legislature last year, and Crandall issued a temporary restraining order in October.

The order remains in effect while the case continues, preventing Act 100 from becoming law.

The act, if it becomes law, would prevent state and county officials from negotiating pay raises between July 1999 and July 2001.

Crandall heard three full days of evidence in the nonjury trial this week. It was agreed among all parties late yesterday afternoon that each side would have 1 hours Thursday to present closing arguments.

When he signed the bill last summer, Gov. Ben Cayetano said he didn't think it would withstand a lawsuit because the state constitution guarantees collective bargaining for public employees.

The United Public Workers and several other unions filed suit against state negotiator Davis Yogi and others in October, leading to the restraining order.