HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 214 04/16/2002 2000-2002 REPORT OF TI-IE
CONIIVIITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: April 16, 2002 Re: Comm. No. 568/Res. No. 189-02
PLACE: Council Chambers
TIME: 10:20 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 189-02, reports as follows:
Resolution No. 189-02, transmitted by Council Member Dominic Yagong, via
Communication No. 568, dated March 21, 2002, supports the "no raise" message of the County
Administration to Public Employee Organizations for fiscal year 2003-2004 given the difficult
fiscal situation of the County.
The purpose of this measure is to assure the Council a voice in the collective bargaining process
sooner rather than later. Several members of Your Committee expressed frustration over being
the final party to have a say in the collective bargaining process after the long negotiations are
complete. Some Committee Members were concerned that adopting the subject resolution
would appear not to be bargaining in good faith.
Your Committee heard testimony in opposition to the measure from Gary Yoshiyama, Hawaii
Division Chief of the Hawaii Government Employees Association Union. Mr. Yoshiyama,
pointed out that this resolution may be unconstitutional and in violation of our public sector
collective bargaining law. Mr. Yoshiyama also stated that Article 13, §2 of the Hawaii State
Constitution gives public employees the right to organize for the purpose of collective
bargaining.
During its discussion, Your Committee learned that the County administration's message was
not the "no raise" position stated in the resolution. Instead, Mayor Harry Kim said he would
encourage minimizing public employee raises due to the County's budget crisis.
Although a motion to amend the NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED clause was made to
offer language acceptable to the Mayor and Council Member Yagong, the maker of the
resolution, Mr. Yagong stated he would rather take the vote on the resolution on "as is". If it
failed, any other Council Member wishing to do so could draft a new resolution.
FC REPORT NO. 214
A motion to approve was made and seconded, followed by a vote by the eight members in
attendance. The final vote, as reflected below, prompted the Committee Chair to forward this
measure to full Council with a negative recommendation.
For informational purposes, Ms. Pisicchio and Mr. Yagong voted kanalua once then a no vote.
Your Committee on Finance forwards Resolution No. 189-02 to Council with a negative
recommendation.
smc
nrES NOES n&E Ex Respectfully submitted
CI-IUNG X
I'ISlcca-aIO x COM EE ON FINANCE
ARAKAKI X
ELARION®FF X
JACOI;SON X
LEITHEAD-TODD X ~
SAFARIK X AARON S.Y. CH G, CI-IAIR
TYLER X FC REPORT NO.
YAGONG X ADOPTED: MAY CLLZ~Il2