HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0582.020 1996-1998 Julie Jacobson December 17, 1997
POB 900
Kurtistown, HI, 96760
Phone 808-966-8831 `~;'j ~
Dear Council Chairman, and lfi.~uncilmembers,
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Please give consideration to my views on funding the contract requirements of units 3
and 4. I am concerned about the finance committee's refusal to fund the new
contracts. I favor funding contracts arrived at by good faith collective bargaining.
Please take the time to consider why I feel you should vote to fund this contract at its
next hearing. To those members who voted to fund these contracts, Aaron Chung,
James Arakaki, and AI Smith, I commend you for voting for something that may not be
popular. I concur with Aaron Chung's opinion, that the council is obligated to fund this
type of contract. Here are some of my concerns:
1) HGEA now has a no strike clause as part of labor law. When they gave up this right
to strike, all legislators involved stated that funding would be available, or no monetary
offers would be made during negotiations. When they made this agreement to give up
the right to strike, they were assured that they could rely on the integrity of our elected
officials to honor agreements made in good faith during the collective bargaining
process. 1 feel you have a responsibility to honor agreements that were crafted, in part,
by county members of the negotiating teams. If employees can't bargain with those
you appoint or confirm, with whom should they negotiate?
2) I'm sure the courts will be asked for their opinion, if funding is not provided. A
review of recent decisions would seem to give such awards to labor when binding
arbitration is involved as in our case.
3) The money is available in the budget. It was put there in response to negotiated
settlements.
4) County workers are an important part of our community. As numbers of employees
dropped in some departments, many new duties were assumed by remaining
employees. As you are in government service now, I suspect you realize that most
public employees are motivated and loyal to the needs of the public. Public workers
are attempting to improve services and/or provide the best services with what
resources we have. They are doing more; they should be paid more. The contract
reflects this.
5) If you and the rest of the Council had no intention of honoring collective bargaining
decisions, you should have announced this during, not after negotiations. Saying
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nobody asked your opinion on this shows a lack of responsibility and understanding of
your trust with the people of this county.
6) Many public sector employees have skills that could be sold for higher wages in the
private sector. However, they feel that they have a duty to work for the long term good
of the public. We need to keep these high quality employees working for our
government. Because of the nature of public sectorjobs, many professionals will take
less pay, because they want stability. Many enjoy doing a good job for the public.
They still need to have contracts honored by their employers. Especially after lengthy
good faith negotiations by employee and employer representatives.
7) Not funding this contract is a highly destabilizing action. When Governor Cayetano
threatened massive layoffs and a Reduction in Force (RIF), banks and businesses
were severely impacted. Years later, they are just beginning to recover. I feel that a
failure to fund this contract will call into question, all public sector contracts, including
those that are subject to binding arbitration. This action on the eve of Christmas is
going to affect business. Public employees, cheated out of raises that were bargained
for in good faith, do not make for happy employees. They will think about finding other
employment or leaving Hawaii. They will spend less at local merchants.
8) Despite the fashionable call for smaller government, I hope you can see that refusing
to fund this contract will not lead to the goal of better public services for less money. If
smaller govemment is really what is sought, sitting down and talking with labor is going
to be more effective than irritating them and your constituents, only to later lose in the
courts.
I hope that you attempt to have a real understanding of the problems the working class
experiences. You should know that most public employees aren't members of the
privileged class. Most have spouses with another job, some have a second job to
make ends meet, yet others run small businesses to generate more income. Stable
employment benefits our economy. Vote to fund the contracts that were approved by
employers and employees.
Sincerely,
Julie Jacobs6fi