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l _ _ <br /> Working Together LOCAL 152. AFL-CIO ~v'v ' ~~{~~/v~~ <br /> for Hawaii ~ s~. v <br /> T„_, <br /> Hawaii Government Employees Association . <br /> 495 Manono Street, Hilo, Hawuii 96720, Phone (808) 935-6841, FAX (80&J 961-2437 <br /> v i~ Lam:, 1. ! i i. <br /> December 17, 1997 <br /> C'. <br /> TPA+imony of Ann Ebecuno Unit 03 Negotiator and Chair~rson Baking in Favor of <br /> RP~~intion 185-97 Relating to Funding of Cost Items for Bargaining Units 03, 04. 63 and 84 <br /> Good morning Chairman Arakaki and Members of the Council. My name is Ann Ebesuno. 1 <br /> am employed as a Hearings Reporter with the Department of Liquor Control, County of Hawaii. 1 am <br /> also an HGEA/AFSCME member in Bargaining Unit 03. I was elected Chairperson of Hawaii Island <br /> <br /> Division Bargaining Unit 03 for a second term in July of 1997, and by virtue of my chairmanship, 1 <br /> serve on our Unit 03 statewide negotiating team. At the negotiating table, I represent the interests of <br /> our County of Hawaii employees. <br /> Negotiations began in August of 1996 when the negotiating team reviewed 81 contract <br /> proposals submitted by Unit 03 members statewide. On August 30, 1996, contract proposals were <br /> exchanged, with the Employer group submitting a package of 23 proposals, and the union submitting a <br /> package of 11 proposals. <br /> Our Unit 03 Statewide Negotiating Team met at least once every month from September 1996 <br /> to September 11, 1997, when our statewide negotiating team voted to accept the pay package offered <br /> by the Employer. This pay package was, subsequently, ratified by our membership, with 91% of those <br /> who voted, voting in favor of acceptance of the package. <br /> Please note that one of the reasons that the statewide negotiating team accepted the package <br /> offered by the Employer is we were aware that the fire fighters and educational officers had both <br /> negotiated salary packages that totalled 5.06%. Furthermore, we believed this to be a fair and equitable <br /> offer given the economic situation. <br /> Most recently, we learned of the final and binding arbitration decision on the contract between <br /> Public Employer's and the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers. The decision awarded an <br /> estimated 5.19% increase to base pay during the two years of the contract covered by that decision. <br /> I understand that we have many people suffering in our districts, and I feel for them. Maybe it's <br /> easy to overlook the part government employees do to help, but I hope you will consider the following. <br /> In government we are increasingly doing more with less. We look to streamline services, decrease <br /> waste, and increase efficiency---all while serving an often impatient public that desires still more <br /> services with less available human resources. Outside of government, we also help. Our union offers <br /> scholarships to increase educational opportunity for our children. Our members volunteer their time <br /> and monies in service to the community. We not only donate generously to the food bank, but we also <br /> G,~ii~~. vu. S82 . o <br /> 1 ESIe No. ~Q~ <br /> list Presented cod.~c.` <br /> ic~r. hate DEC 1 19 <br /> <br />