HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0778.003 1996-1998
April 14, 1998
Honorable Aaron Chung, Chair
Committee on Finance
County Council
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Good morning Chairman Chung and committee members. My name is Richard Onishi. I
am a Computer Systems Analyst employed by the County of Hawaii Finance Department. I am
a member of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME local 152, AFL-CIO's
Unit 13, Professional and Scientific Employees. I am a union steward and presently serving as
the Chairperson for the Hawaii Island Division of Unit 13. Thank you for allowing me to speak
today.
I am speaking today in support of Communication #778, and am urging your support to
pass Resolution 251, the funding of the negotiated cost items between Units 13 and 73, and the
government employers.
i
Unit 13 is commonly referred to as the Professional and Scientific Employees Unit.
These employees in our County includes Accountants, Appraisers, Budget Analyst, Computer
Analyst, Civil Defense employees, Engineers, Planners, Procurement Specialist, Recreation
Directors and Surveyors to name a few.
The negotiations for this agreement began in the summer of 1996 and culminated with its
ratification of the Employer's offer by the Unit 13 membership in March; As indicated by the
Resolution, the current budget for Fiscal Year 98 already includes an appropriation for this
additional cost. And it is my understanding that the cost for Fiscal Year 99 is included in the
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budget before you now.
During my previous testimonies before you and the entire Council, concerns were raised
' regarding the role of the HGEA's membership in helping to make government more efficient and
effective. I testified to you that our membership is more than willing to take an active role in the
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reorganization, reconstru. _an and redevelopment of government to make it more responsive to
the needs of the public and to make it more efficient.
Our Hawaii Island Division has taken a number of steps to begin this process. First,we
have continued to put emphasis in the implementation of the Organizing Model for stewards and
membership empowerment and responsibility which began in the Fall of 1996. In this effort we
are trying to have a steward in every workplace so that timely information is available to all
employees and so that problems in the workplace can be addressed in a timely manner so that
minor incidents or concerns do not get blown out of proportion. This translates to more services
to the public and greater efficiency.
Our Political Action Committee has held three informational forums for our membership
regarding key island issues, they were on Prisons, Irradiation and Agriculture. In each forum we
heard for key persons from the Big Island and the state on both sides of the issue followed by
question from the membership to the panelist. We also had a forum on the recommendations fo
the Economic Revitalization Task Force with Russell Okata,who was a member of the task
force.
The HGEA State Board of Directors has approved the support of the Task Force's
recommendation to increase the General Excise Tax to 5.35%in conjunction with the
recommendation to provide income tax relief. The HGEA support the recent rally held at the
State Capitol and we have started an awareness campaign which includes this button that I am
wearing. The 37 cents is the daily cost of the 1.35%Excise Tax Increase to a person or family
that would spent $10,000, without any consideration for an income tax decrease. The State
Board has also approve support for any other proposals that would provide for increases in state
revenues.
Our Island Division leadership has begun discussions regarding a more active role in
meeting with our political leaders on both the state and county levels. We have meet with our
Senators and Representatives to discuss issues regarding the hospital system, Child Protective
Services, and the University of Hawaii Hilo College. We have called and urged our membership
to call them regarding the support of the General Excise Tax increase. We have extended an
invitation to the members of the Council to begin discussions regarding what can be done to
make government more responsible and more responsive to the needs of the public.
It is our hope that we will be able to work together to reorganize,reconstruct and
redevelop government to better serve the public. I urge you to support the negotiated contract for
the hard working men and women in Unit 13.
Sincerely,
•
Richard Onishi
HGEA,Unit 13 Chair