[ TEACHER STRIKE ]
Employers vary An employee's public school child is either his or her own responsibility, or is welcome in the workplace.
in helping parents
plan for childcare
Some have flexible shifts; others
have distributed information
on daycare resourcesParents choose familiar programs
By Erika Engle
Star-BulletinThese two divergent points of view were found among Hawaii's larger employers yesterday as the threat of a teachers' strike loomed.
Employers and the work force were generally well-informed about the possibility of needing alternative arrangements should the Hawaii State Teachers Association call a strike for its 12,000 members.
Due to the widespread media coverage, the statewide Hawaii Health Systems Corp. had not provided any advance notice to employees, said Miles Takaaze, communications and public affairs director.
"We feel alternate arrangements should be the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian," he said.
Takaaze said a strike would have no "impact or disruption of health care services at its 12 facilities around the state."
Bank of Hawaii spokesman Stafford Kiguchi echoed others in noting that there has been much advance notice about a possible strike and "many families have contingency plans" for daycare.
"We also circulated ... a list of external resources that may be available to assist with child care needs," Kiguchi said.
"Managers have authority to permit employees to bring children to work -- at the manager's discretion," Kiguchi said,
At The Queens Health Systems, Director of Corporate Communications Joel Kennedy said, "We're going to be flexible in trying to help people accommodate their needs."
"Some of our companies have been assembling information (about child care alternatives), and others are referring people," he said.
Employees of Hawaiian Electric Co. were advised to work with supervisors if there are any strike-related vacation requests, according to HECO spokesman Fred Kobashikawa. "We don't expect any strike to negatively impact our operations," he said.
Chuck Freedman, vice president of HECO corporate relations, said, "Obviously we're hoping there won't be a strike, but if there is one and it's prolonged, we'll monitor it."
Retailers said the nature of their business helped make strike contingency planning easier.
"We're not a typical 9-to-5 business," so the company is able to offer some shift-trading, said Sharon Weiner, DFS Hawaii Group's vice president for administration. "Fortunately for us, in Waikiki our busiest time is in the evening, so we have a higher level of staffing in the evening than during the day."
She said the company sent out a memo two weeks ago outlining community resources for day care, and that DFS is processing requests for schedule changes on a case-by-case basis. "We have a lot of moms and dads, and we want to do what we can to accommodate their needs."
Extended hours of operation also works on the plus side for Liberty House, said company President John Monahan.
"We can flex our schedules like crazy," he said, adding that employees can switch shifts and days off, take emergency vacations or emergency time off.
"Not too many people have expressed a problem-- maybe because they're hoping against hope (that the teachers don't walk out)," he said. "But the most important thing is that they advise us of what they need." He said it's early in the year so people have not used up their various types of leave yet.
"With 3,000 employees, it gives us some flexibility, and not all of them have school kids," he said. "We're hoping other employees (who don't have children) will be helpful in adjusting their schedules also."
>> HSTA Web site
>> UHPA Web site
>> State Web site
>> Governor's strike Web site
>> DOE Web site
Most parents without family help to take care of idle public school children appeared to be going with programs they know. Officials at the YMCA and Kamaaina Kids said a majority of the children showing up today are either already enrolled or had previously were enrolled in other programs they offer. Parents choose programs
they know wellNavy Petty Officer Bonda Bordo drove her 6-year-old-son Heath to the Waipahu Y even though they live in the Salt Lake area and she works at Pearl Harbor. "I trust these people," she said.
At the Leeward YMCA in Waipahu, Army Chief Warrant Officer II James Jones Jr. of Makakilo has already calculated the impact the strike will have on his family of three. "We went from $135 a month daycare to $1,400 a month," he said. Nonetheless, he supports the teachers' efforts to get more pay. "We think the teachers deserve their money."
While alternative daycare providers were filling up fast, here are a few agencies that still had space as of last night:
Kamaaina Kids can accommodate about 2,000 kids statewide, including at its 17 sites on Oahu. Parents can register at the strike-care sites from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and again from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Kamaaina Kids
Children will be supervised from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. The cost is $20 a day, or $85 for five days paid in advance. No meals provided.
The sites on military installations are for military dependents only. For more information, call Kamaaina Kids at 262-4538 or go to its headquarters at 156-C Hamakua Drive in Kailua.
Kamaaina Kids' sites are:
Windward Oahu:
>> Aikahi Preschool, 38 Kaneohe Bay Drive, across from Aikahi Shopping Center>> Heeia State Park, 45-465 Kamehameha Highway
>> Kokokahi YWCA, 45-035 Kaneohe Bay Dr.
>> Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii Youth Center
Central/Leeward:
>> Ewa Preschool, 91-1841 Fort Weaver Road>> Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, 400 Farrington Highway, in Kapolei
>> Hickam Community Center, Bldg. 1859, Hickam AFB
>> Mililani Kids Clubhouse, 95-1361 Meheula Parkway
>> Mililani Tech Park Preschool, 345 Kahelu Ave.
>> Pearl City Preschool, 784 Kamehameha Highway.
>> Pearl Harbor Catlin Center, Bldg. 13, Nimitz Road
Honolulu:
>> Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St., off Houghtailing Street in Kalihi>> Honolulu Preschool, 930 Lunalilo St., between Ward Avenue and Victoria Street
>> Laniakea YWCA, 1040 Richard St.
>> Salt Lake Preschool, Sunset Lakeview B, 3215 Ala Ilima Blvd.
>> Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, 2255 Kalakaua Ave.
>> St. Mark's Preschool, 539 Kapahulu Ave.
The Young Men's Christian Association can handle about 1,500 kids at its programs islandwide. Hours vary by branch, but the programs generally last from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., serving kids in kindergarten through sixth grade. The cost is $20 a day at branch YMCAs and $30 a day at Camp Erdman on the North Shore. Call branches for information. YMCA
>> Camp Erdman: 637-4615
>> Central: 941-3344
>> Kaimuki-Waialae: 737-5544
>> Kalihi: 848-2494
>> Leeward: 671-6495
>> Mililani: 625-1040
>> Nuuanu: 536-3556
>> Wahiawa: 621-6100
>> Windward: 261-0808
Easter Seals of Hawaii accommodate special-needs children, including the severely disabled. As of last night, there is room for 35 more -- 10 keiki (ages 4 to 9) and 25 youth (ages 10 to 20). The cost is $40 a day and does not include transportation. Care is provided from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Easter Seals' headquarters at 710 Green St. Call 536-1015, ext 240. Easter Seals
>> HSTA Web site
>> UHPA Web site
>> State Web site
>> Governor's strike Web site
>> DOE Web site