HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0582.004 1996-1998 l _ _
Working Together LOCAL 152. AFL-CIO ~v'v ' ~~{~~/v~~
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Hawaii Government Employees Association .
495 Manono Street, Hilo, Hawuii 96720, Phone (808) 935-6841, FAX (80&J 961-2437
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December 17, 1997
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TPA+imony of Ann Ebecuno Unit 03 Negotiator and Chair~rson Baking in Favor of
RP~~intion 185-97 Relating to Funding of Cost Items for Bargaining Units 03, 04. 63 and 84
Good morning Chairman Arakaki and Members of the Council. My name is Ann Ebesuno. 1
am employed as a Hearings Reporter with the Department of Liquor Control, County of Hawaii. 1 am
also an HGEA/AFSCME member in Bargaining Unit 03. I was elected Chairperson of Hawaii Island
Division Bargaining Unit 03 for a second term in July of 1997, and by virtue of my chairmanship, 1
serve on our Unit 03 statewide negotiating team. At the negotiating table, I represent the interests of
our County of Hawaii employees.
Negotiations began in August of 1996 when the negotiating team reviewed 81 contract
proposals submitted by Unit 03 members statewide. On August 30, 1996, contract proposals were
exchanged, with the Employer group submitting a package of 23 proposals, and the union submitting a
package of 11 proposals.
Our Unit 03 Statewide Negotiating Team met at least once every month from September 1996
to September 11, 1997, when our statewide negotiating team voted to accept the pay package offered
by the Employer. This pay package was, subsequently, ratified by our membership, with 91% of those
who voted, voting in favor of acceptance of the package.
Please note that one of the reasons that the statewide negotiating team accepted the package
offered by the Employer is we were aware that the fire fighters and educational officers had both
negotiated salary packages that totalled 5.06%. Furthermore, we believed this to be a fair and equitable
offer given the economic situation.
Most recently, we learned of the final and binding arbitration decision on the contract between
Public Employer's and the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers. The decision awarded an
estimated 5.19% increase to base pay during the two years of the contract covered by that decision.
I understand that we have many people suffering in our districts, and I feel for them. Maybe it's
easy to overlook the part government employees do to help, but I hope you will consider the following.
In government we are increasingly doing more with less. We look to streamline services, decrease
waste, and increase efficiency---all while serving an often impatient public that desires still more
services with less available human resources. Outside of government, we also help. Our union offers
scholarships to increase educational opportunity for our children. Our members volunteer their time
and monies in service to the community. We not only donate generously to the food bank, but we also
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help with the sorting and packing during the major food drives; we beautify our highways and beaches
in litter clean-up projects, we are significant contributors to the Hawaii Island United Way, we pay our
fair share of taxes, we pay steep auto and real property insurances, we struggle to be financially
responsible, and every single one of us supports our local businesses with our purchase of food,
material goods and services.
You have heard or will hear others testifying about the diversity of occupations in Bargaining Unit 03.
Think of what these positions do and the needed services our labors provide. I urge you to fiord the
cost items package before you.
C~C1tr~---C~
Ann Ebesuno
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