Gov. Linda Lingle could have turned in a better performance in her handling of protesters who have been staging a sit-in—wittingly or not—on behalf of teachers and other public employees in the state's public school system. The governor has put forth a spending proposal that would end the schools' Furlough Fridays, but the protesters seem to insist that public employees on the fringes benefit. Taxpayers cannot afford such unnecessary generosity.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association and the Board of Education want $92 million to be transferred from the Hurricane Relief Fund to pay for school days on what otherwise will be Furlough Fridays through the next school year. Lingle had agreed upon a $62 million transfer to pay for teachers and other school employees essential to restore school days. Yesterday, citing dimming hopes of salvaging this school year, Lingle says a smaller amount will be required.

The controversy is not about whether to restore school days for students and teachers but whether to restore workdays for all employees. Those include district office employees, registrars, student activity coordinators, community school principals, school bus managers, athletic directors and trainers, clinical psychologists, mental health supervisors and social workers.

Not surprisingly, HSTA and other public employee unions argue that all their members are necessary for schools to be open each and every day of the school year. That is not so.

The parent protesters, instead of targeting only the governor, should also be camping out on the steps of the HSTA, the Hawaii Government Employees Association and the United Public Workers—calling for an end to this $92 million all-or-nothing nonsense. Fiscal responsibility must be recognized.

During negotiations, Lingle says the teachers union “;really didn't talk about the children. It talked about union solidarity. And it said, no matter what, we're not going to go back in unless all our union brothers and sisters in the other unions come back in”;—the white-collar HGEA and the blue-collar UPW.

Knowing where their votes are buttered, elected members of the school board jumped aboard the solidarity boat.

Clare Hanusz, a lawyer and member of the protesting Save Our Schools group, says it engaged in a sit-in at the governor's office because “;she has the power to call the parties together.”;

The HSTA, which is surely enjoying the sit-in show at Lingle's expense, proclaimed its March 30 position as the union's last offer to the state. “;This is the final chapter in the negotiating process,”; HSTA President Wil Okabe declared.

No. With legislative means still available to tap the relief fund, now is the time for all sides to make good on their education rhetoric.

Lingle says she is open to renewed negotiations. Do it. But doing so would be fruitless unless the teachers union agrees to back away from misplaced and rigid multi-union solidarity—for the good of the children.