cuechi@mauinews.com
Gov. David Ige announced Wednesday that furloughs for state employees will be delayed thanks to a $900 billion federal relief package that will help cover vaccine efforts.
The furloughs were set to go into effect Jan. 1 with the state staring down a massive budget shortfall in the coming years. In a letter sent to state employees Wednesday afternoon, Ige said the state had been waiting months to see if Congress would provide additional federal funds to help address the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts in Hawaii.
While a bipartisan bill passed Monday by Congress and awaiting the president’s signature does not provide funding to state and local governments for revenue shortfall, it does cover COVID-related measures that the state would have to pay for otherwise, such as vaccine distribution, testing, education and other efforts, according to the Governor’s Office.
mtanji@mauinews.com
Hawaii’s 13,000-member teachers’ union has filed a complaint over the “unilateral imposition” of furloughs that are scheduled to start for public school employees on Jan. 4.
The prohibited practice complaint filed by the Hawaii State Teachers Association with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board says that the state does not have the authority to impose furloughs without bargaining, since HSTA has a contract in place until June 30, 2021.
“Collective bargaining is enshrined in Hawaii’s constitution, and contracts cannot be dismissed when the governor considers them inconvenient. Otherwise, why have a contract?” HSTA President Corey Rosenlee said in a news release Friday evening. “If these illegal furloughs are implemented, Gov. Ige would be the third governor in a row to cut teacher pay. Such a move would be bad for education, worsen Hawaii’s teacher shortage crisis and ultimately hurt our keiki.”
Hawaii Department of Education announces furlough dates for public school employees kitv.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kitv.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Hawaii public school educators fight back against furloughs
HSTA plans legal actions to halt furloughs as some teachers worry positions will be cut for good By Chelsea Davis | December 15, 2020 at 11:16 PM HST - Updated December 15 at 11:22 PM
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Public school educators are fighting to block the state’s furlough plan.
Governor David Ige said it’s needed to save jobs in the long run. However, teachers say forcing them to take days off is illegal and they plan to take legal action.
“What the governor and the DOE are doing is implementing furloughs which violates our collective bargaining agreement. The state constitution of Hawaii protects protective bargaining and to implement this over the wishes of the union’s, especially HSTA, we believe is illegal,” said Hawaii State Teachers Association President Corey Rosenlee.
DOE has set its furlough dates for public school employees, some teachers say they should have been consulted kitv.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kitv.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.