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November 3, 1997 <br /> J <br /> <br /> Honorable John Ray, Chair <br /> <br /> Committee on Human Services and Economic Development <br /> County Council ' ~ ~ <br /> County of Hawaii TM`y`-"-"'~~r-~Y <br /> 25 Au uni Street <br /> P County Councll~~'- _ <br /> Hilo, HI 96720 j"~ <br /> Good morning Chairman Ray and committee members. My name is Richazd Onishi. I <br /> am a Computer Systems Analyst employed by the County of Hawaii Finance Department. I am <br /> a member of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME local 152, AFL-CIO's <br /> Unit 13, Professional and Scientific Employees. I azn a union stewazd and presently serving as <br /> the Chairperson for the Hawaii Island Division of Unit 13. Thank you for allowing me to speak <br /> today. <br /> I have reviewed Mr. McLay's paper on "Changing an Economy by Changing its Public <br /> Sector" and wish to comment on the issue of privatization. <br /> My union does not agree that privatization is the answer to an effective, efficient and <br /> responsive government. Reinventing government or privatization aze issues that strikes to the <br /> very heart of our system of government - to the Faith we as a people have in our government and <br /> its ability to meet our needs. How we resolve these issues could affect the quality of civic life for <br /> each and everyone of us -now and for generations to come. <br /> Do it right and we go a long way towazd restoring confidence in our institutions of <br /> governance. Do it wrong and we risk further erosion of public services, more public cynicism <br /> and retreat. The stakes are high. Our responsibility to make the right decisions aze clear. <br /> At AFSCME, we have long believed in the need to change the way government works. It <br /> is time to seize this opportunity and do it. <br /> Have your heard or even passed onto others when referring to public sector union <br /> employees -That's someone who sees the status quo as a gravy train and doesn't want any kind <br /> of change. If anyone thinks public employees are just a bunch of lazy drones, they haven't seen <br /> too many of us in action. And if others think we oppose change, they should know this: We not <br /> only want to reinvent government - we want to turn it inside out. Qomm Dia -5'2 6 ' ~ <br /> D41s 1{a. ~-yi! <br /> id. •!s1 Preset (+s~ <br /> <br />