[ TEACHER STRIKE ]
Talks strike NEGOTIATORS FOR THE state and the Hawaii State Teachers Association ended talks late last night, calling them "productive" toward reaching an agreement that would end the statewide walkout by public school teachers.
optimistic chord
Bargaining resumes under
the eye of a federal mediatorTeachers strike scuttles
student conventionsBy Crystal Kua
Star-BulletinLast night's talks, facilitated by federal mediator Ken Kawamoto began at 5 p.m. and ended just before 11 p.m. They will resume 4 p.m. Monday.
The chief negotiators for the state and the teachers union both arrived at the federal building yesterday ready to bargain. "The fact that we're together is optimistic," said the HSTA's Joan Husted.
Husted and the state's Davis Yogi arrived a few minutes before their scheduled 5 p.m. start time with Kawamoto.
Husted wheeled into the building with her items she said she may need in case bargaining lasted late into the night. "I brought my coffee thing. I've got something to put under my head if I sleep on the floor," she said.
Yogi brought a sweatshirt that said "Property of Alcatraz" to respond to comments made by HSTA's Karen Ginoza, who said yesterday both sides should be locked in a room to bargain.
"Rather than lock me up in one room, put me in jail where everybody can come see me," quipped Yogi. "Well, you know, you've got to keep your sense of humor."
Ginoza, who smiled when told of Yogi's sweatshirt, said teachers want to get back to the classroom. "We want it settled," she said.
Four Student Transition Conventions scheduled for next week by the Adult Friends for Youth Student Transition Convention have been canceled due to the teachers strike. Teachers strike scuttles
student conventionsChairpersons Frank DeLima and Lynne Waihee announced the cancellation of the first four of 10 conventions.
The conventions had been scheduled for Monday and Tuesday at the Neal Blaisdell Center Arena and Friday and Saturday at the Hawaii Okinawa Center. Every effort will be made to reschedule the remaining conventions should a strike settlement be reached before April 30.
Conventions at the Brigham Young University Cannon Activities Center on April 24 and on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island in May will not be affected by this notice.
For more information, call Jocelyn Valdez or Sid Rosen at 848-1411.
The strike by 12,000 public school teachers began April 5.
Yogi said a phone call from the spouse of a teacher helped convince him to get back to the table.
"I felt for him," Yogi said.
He also said that with U.S. District Judge David Ezra watching, "It is going to be good to say that both parties are making an effort."
Ezra -- concerned about the impact the strike is having on special-education services -- indicated yesterday that he may step in if the strike continues for more than a week.
When Yogi was asked if the teachers' contract might get settled this weekend, said: "I don't know. We have to see where we are."
Yogi said informal talks earlier in the week were productive.
"Both parties said they would do some math, so I guess it's time ... to see where we are," Yogi said. "I think it's time to put everything together."
Teachers went on strike April 5, and the picket lines are expected to be back up again Monday.
All schools will be closed except for the public school on Niihau, the only school reopened so far.
Both sides remain far apart on money.
The state originally offered an average 9 percent raise with a total cost of $67 million. The state then went as high as 14 percent, costing $93 million.
The union's original 22 percent wage demand had a price tag of over $260 million. The union then lowered the total cost of its proposal to just under $200 million while still being able to offer 21 percent raises.
The union said it is also looking for three things in a settlement: retroactive wages, raises for everyone and step increases.
The state has said that it cannot afford what the union is asking for.
>> HSTA Web site
>> UHPA Web site
>> State Web site
>> Governor's strike Web site
>> DOE Web site
