State public school principals, vice principals, their staff and other white-collar employees in the school system will join teachers in the first furlough Friday this week.

State Schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto sent letters to education employees, parents and guardians today telling them that “;HGEA employees along with our teachers and students will not report to work/school on furlough Fridays.”;

The final bargaining unit of the Hawaii Government Employees Association voted overwhelmingly to approve a two-year contract that includes 17 furlough days this fiscal year and 24 furlough days next fiscal year.

Eighty-four percent of Bargaining Unit 6, which includes public school principals and vice principals and some office employees, voted in favor of the contract, the union said.

Some 453 votes were cast out of 815 workers in Unit 6 over four days ending yesterday afternoon, according to the union.

  UPW Members To Work On Furlough Fridays

 

Even though public schools will be closed for classes on furlough Fridays members of the United Public Workers union must still report to work.

[ Watch ]

 

The contract covers the period of July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2011.

Other HGEA members who work in the public school system also voted overwhelmingly in favor of furlough days. Those results were announced Monday.

The HGEA's furlough days at schools coincide with the teachers' furlough days. Teachers, who are represented by the Hawaii State Teachers Association, voted last month in favor of a new contract that includes furlough days.

Hamamoto's letter went on to say that “;the United Public Workers contract has not been settled, so UPW employees will continue to report to work on furlough days.”;

The UPW represents school janitors and cafeteria workers.

“;Furloughs will require us to pull together in the best interest of Hawaii's keiki,”; Hamamoto said in the letter.

Furlough days for the 2009-2010 school year are:
» Friday.
» Oct. 30.
» Nov. 6 and 20.
» Dec. 4, 11 and 18.
» Jan. 15 and 29.
» Feb. 5 and 12.
» March 5 and 12.
» April 23 and 30.
» May 7 and 14.
The furlough schedule for the 2010-2011 school year is still being finalized.