Walk-out could come in April With less than a week remaining before a scheduled strike vote, the union representing Hawaii’s public school teachers have rejected yet another contract offer from the state. Danielle Lum, spokeswoman for the Hawai’i State Teacher’s
Walk-out could come in April
With less than a week remaining before a scheduled strike vote, the union representing Hawaii’s public school teachers have rejected yet another contract offer from the state.
Danielle Lum, spokeswoman for the Hawai’i State Teacher’s Association, said the latest proposal turned down Thursday was generally identical to previous offers, “just presented differently.”
Lum said the union — which has been without a contract since January 1999 — was told about the latest offer on Wednesday, and that a Thursday meeting was HSTA’s first official meeting with state negotiators in more than a month.
HSTA members are scheduled to cast their strike votes next Wednesday at various locations across the state, with Kauai’s public-school educators doing so at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Puhi.
The local teachers will hold roadside rallies along Kaumuali’i Highway before and after the 4 p.m. vote.
If educators vote in favor of striking, the union must give 10 days notice before doing so. Lum said the HSTA would likely not strike until the first week of April.
Lum said union members are unsure if they will receive another offer from the state before the strike vote.
“It’s hard to tell because a lot of offers have been made last-minute,” she said. “But we stand ready to meet (with state negotiators) at any time.”
The union has been requesting a 22 percent increase over four years, while the state has offered 9 percent raises in the past.
Staff writer Matt Smylie can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 226) and mailto:msmylie@pulitzer.net
