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HSTA to file
for an impasse
in talks with state

The move by the teachers'
union is the first step toward
taking a strike vote

---

By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

The Hawaii State Teachers Association was to file for an impasse today in its contract talks with the state -- an indication that negotiations are at a stalemate.

"We will do everything we can to ensure that teachers receive a fair settlement -- what they need and what they deserve," HSTA President Karen Ginoza said.

An impasse declaration is the first step toward taking a strike vote.

The union representing Hawaii's 11,000 public school teachers has been working without a new contract for 18 months.

The impasse filing with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board comes after the union rejected last week the state's only salary proposal, presented on Oct. 21.

The state offered no raises for the first two years of a proposed four-year contract and across-the-board raises of $1,607 in 2001 and $2,092 in 2002.

The state said the offer was aimed at increasing pay for starting teachers.

State chief labor negotiator Davis Yogi could not be reached for comment this morning.

The union is looking for a combination of an annual across-the-board raise for all teachers as well as step increases.

"Our goal is to enhance our public schools by attracting and retaining quality teachers," Ginoza said.

Ginoza and other union officials have said teacher shortages in special education and other hard-to-place categories now extend to general-education teachers.

Ginoza said many elementary schools -- which traditionally have had too many applicants for job openings -- have difficulty in filling positions.

An impasse has already been declared in talks with the union representing University of Hawaii faculty.

The governor has said the state cannot afford a 14 percent arbitration award to white-collar workers represented by the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

And the blue-collar workers represented by the United Public Workers have approved a strike vote.

Cayetano had hoped the state's roughly 9 percent salary increase to teachers would be one that he could offer to settle talks with other unions.