HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP HSEDC 009 01/08/2002 2000-2002 REP®RT of TIIE
COM1bIITTEE ON IIjJMAN SERVICES Al®1D ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DATE: January 8, 2002 Re: Communication No. 453/Resolution No. 160-02
PLACE: Council Chambers
TIME: 3:08 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Human Services and Economic Development, to which was referred Resolution No.
160-02, "A Resolution Supporting Good Faith Negotiations Between the Hale Anuenue Administration
and Representatives of ILWU Local 142 to Resolve Remaining Issues in Their Contract Negotiations,"
reports as follows:
Resolution No. 160-02, transmitted by Council member Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd via Communication
No. 453, dated December 26, 2001, supports the "continuation of good faith negotiations between ILWU
Local 142 and the Hale Anuenue administration to resolve outstanding issues to insure that the quality of
care of residents of Hale Anuenue remains at the highest possible level."
Your committee heard testimony of support of Resolution No. 160-02 from Isaac Fiesta, Jr., ILWU
business agent, five other ILWU members and pensioners, and a member of the Hawai` i State Teachers
Association. Your committee also received a letter dated January 7, 2002 from Ivan S. Yamamoto,
executive director of the Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center, stating that the proposed resolution was
inappropriate as "these matters are governed by federal labor law."
Council member Curtis Tyler expressed concern about the Council weighing in on a labor dispute and
lamented that no representative of Hale Anuenue was present to articulate the position of management in
response to the ILWU's testimony. Council member Aaron Chung noted that the resolution was utterly
neutral in its language and expressed confidence that the Council was "not taking sides." Similarly,
Council member Dominic Yagong acknowledged that the resolution was "carefully crafled." In response
to Mr. Tyler's concerns, Council member Leithead-Todd noted that the Council often "weighs in" on
issues outside its jurisdiction, citing a past resolution supporting the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and actions
by the state legislature when labor strikes are imminent. Council member Leithead-Todd assured Mr.
Tyler that she would address a letter to Mr. Yamamoto of Hale Anuenue inviting his attendance and
testimony at the Council's next meeting on January 24, 2002.
Council member Tyler voted kanalua, then no. Your Committee on Human Services and Economic
Development is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 160-02 and recommends its
adoption and filing of Communication 453 and all related communications.
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AYES rroES A.&E Ex Respectfully submitted:
PISICCIIIO x
dAC®SS®N x COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES
and ECONOMIC DEVEL PMENT
ARAI{AKI x
CII[JNG x
ELAItIONOFF x
LEI'rI~AD-TODD x NANCY PIS CCHIO, CHAIR
HS&EDC REPORmT~~T~ 9
SAFARiI{ x ADOPTED: i'y
TYLER x ~ -
YAGONG x