HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0184.003 2024-2026UNITED PUBLIC WORKERS
AFSCME local 646, AFL-CIO
HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL
Wednesdays, April 16, 2025, 9:00 AM
West Hawaii Civic Center
Re: Bill 37 — AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 24-32, AS AMENDED, THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE
COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025
Chair Inaba, Vice Chair Onishi, and Members of the Council:
The United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO ("UPW") is the exclusive bargaining representative
for approximately 14,000 public employees, which includes blue-collar, non -supervisory employees in
Bargaining Unit 1 and institutional, health, and correctional employees in Bargaining Unit 10, in the State
of Hawaii and each of the four counties.
UPW strongly supports Bill 37, which increases revenues in the Fund Balance from Previous Year
account ($70,000,000) and appropriates the same to the Provision for Compensation Adjustment -
General account. These funds would be used to pay for Temporary Hazard Pay for all covered
Employees, including the more than 600 Bargaining Unit 1 members that UPW represents, for work
performed during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to March 2022.
Bill 37 will finally provide eligible Bargaining Unit 1 members, who are dedicated Hawaii County public
servants, with the much -deserved Temporary Hazard Pay they earned for the essential work performed
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mahalo for the opportunity to testify in support of this measure and the Council's continued support of
UPW's members.
Sincerely,
#_._. Kalani Werner
State Director
Comm. NO. .
Ref, To: MOW
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