Unions, gov discuss Leaders of public and private unions met with Gov. Ben Cayetano for two hours behind closed doors yesterday to discuss ways to relieve the impact on Hawaii's workers of the sudden economic downturn caused by last week's terrorist attacks.
worker aid
Leaders ask for a "reasonable
safety net" in medical and
benefits for laid off workersBy Bruce Dunford
Associated PressOne major concern was the loss of medical insurance coverage for laid-off workers and the possibility of a temporary expansion of eligibility in the state-subsidized Med-Quest insurance program to cover them and their families, Cayetano said.
"If we are going to provide subsidies and help to companies, we must make sure that those businesses do everything they can to take care of their employees," he said. "That means, if you have to cut your work force, you may have to look at job sharing and things like that."
Union leaders "are asking a reasonable safety net for the workers who are displaced," Cayetano said.
"I think there's a great deal of concern by the union leaders that it's important that their members not be the only ones that share the burden, but this is something all of us, management as well as workers, do together," he said.
"Yesterday we talked about a partnership with the business people, and it has to be a partnership which includes the rank and file of the working people as well," Cayetano said.
On Wednesday, Cayetano met with business leaders to initiate a strategy to deal with the economic downturn resulting from the near shutdown of Hawaii's tourist industry following the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington.
The union leaders supported the proposal to suggestions the state and counties expand spending on government construction, job retraining and extending the period for which a laid-off worker can receive unemployment compensation, he said.
Before the meeting, United Public Workers state Director Gary Rodrigues said he was concerned that the state and tourist industry has been slow in launching a major advertising campaign to resurrect the tourist industry.
At Wednesday's meeting, not enough was done to stress that Hawaii is a safe place to visit, he said.
"There was nothing going on yesterday but people talking about their bad state of mind and the conditions surrounding it," he said. "But guess what. That would disappear in a minute if the planes would start coming in full from the mainland, from the Orient, from whatever countries that come here and between islands, and not one politician said that," Rodrigues said.
"I understand his concern," Cayetano said. "We discussed that at yesterday's meeting, and the majority opinion was, we really need to take a look at how we shape the new message before we do it."
"And two, we did not want to do anything before New York (City) did it, and I think New York has started its campaign," he said. "Our campaign is going to start."
Earlier in the day, Cayetano met with the Legislature's leaders and some top economists to go over what kind of relief measures might be taken up during a special legislative session tentatively set for the second half of October.
Those attending the meeting said the economists supported the idea of expanding state and county construction to create jobs, but discouraged any move to repeal the final phase of the 1998 income tax cuts that takes effect in January.
Meanwhile, Cayetano announced he also is seeking the collective wisdom of Hawaii's people in dealing with the economic crisis.
"We welcome anyone with a concern or a suggestion to write to my office," he said.
The suggestions can either be mailed to his office at the Capitol or sent as a message through the "Hawaii Rebounds" link on the state or governor's Web site. His office said some of those proposals will be posted on the link.
On the Net:
Governor: gov.state.hi.us
State of Hawaii: ehawaiigov.org
