Timed when state public worker contract negotiations are making headlines, 19 Republicans were expected today to recall a bill to the House floor that allows the University of Hawaii, state hospitals and Hawaii's four counties to negotiate contracts independent of the state administration. GOP backs counties
making own labor dealsBy Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin
This key piece of legislation was part of Gov. Ben Cayetano's major civil service reform package he introduced in previous sessions, but public worker opposition so far has made it a hard sale to legislators. GOP members say while it is too late to act this year, public debate needs to begin now if the state wants to see any real change in the way government operates.
Currently, state and counties collectively negotiate labor contracts that apply statewide, with the state having four votes on the management team, while each of the counties has one vote.
The unions believe the current setup ensures equal pay for equal work.
But the state administration believes the system is obsolete and does not provide enough flexibility to address individual county needs. Republicans agree.
"This isn't always good for all the counties because every county is different," said Rep. Mark Moses (R, Kapolei). "They all have different needs and desires, they have different taxing authorities and financing abilities, and they can't always pay for the raises that the state thinks are great for everybody."
Moses said the bill -- introduced by Republicans this past January -- gives a little bit of home rule and autonomy for some government agencies that need it. Rep. Jim Rath (R, Kona) said the individual counties can work directly with each bargaining unit and avoid having the state force the counties to adhere to a contract agreement they did not negotiate.
In keeping with an earlier agreement with the Democratic House majority, the GOP has notified House Speaker Calvin Say (D, Palolo) they intend to recall House Bill 263 from Rep. Terry Yoshinaga's Labor Committee.
House passage of the bill would put it on the Senate's agenda for next year. House Minority Leader Galen Fox (R, Waikiki) said senators would have to seriously consider any bipartisan support on civil service reform coming from the House at this stage of the session.
Republican senators have already pledged they would make it a priority if such a bill crossed over.
Sen. Fred Hemmings (R, Kailua) said House bipartisan support would be taken seriously because the bill could be reviewed on its merits and not on the politics that got it there.
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