Teachers’ union files complaint over furloughs

Governor requiring state workers to furlough starting in January

Hawaii’s 13,000-member teachers’ union has filed a complaint over the “unilateral imposition” of furloughs that are scheduled to start for public school employees on Jan. 4.

The prohibited practice complaint filed by the Hawaii State Teachers Association with the Hawaii Labor

Relations Board says that the state does not have the authority to impose furloughs without bargaining, since HSTA has a contract in place until June 30, 2021.

“Collective bargaining is enshrined in Hawaii’s constitution, and contracts cannot be dismissed when the governor considers them inconvenient. Otherwise, why have a contract?” HSTA President Corey Rosenlee said in a news release Friday evening. “If these illegal furloughs are implemented, Gov. Ige would be the third governor in a row to cut teacher pay. Such a move would be bad for education, worsen Hawaii’s teacher shortage crisis and ultimately hurt our keiki.”

Gov. David Ige announced on Dec. 9 that state employees would be furloughed up to two days a month starting Jan. 1 to make up for a projected $1.4 billion budget shortfall in the general fund for each of the next four years. Ige has said that if the furloughs were in place for a year, they could save the state $300 million.

Earlier this week, state Department of Education Superintendent Christina Kishimoto sent a tentative schedule to employees that said furloughs would begin Jan. 4. Ten-month employees would be subject to six furlough days, while year-round employees would take 10 furlough days from January to June.

The complaint filed Friday said that neither Ige nor Kishimoto communicated or discussed the final furlough implementation plan in advance with HSTA, according to the news release.

The labor relations board is expected to schedule a hearing to listen to arguments in the case, HSTA said.

DOE spokeswoman Nanea Kalani did not comment on the complaint

Friday evening but said that in general, the department does not have authority or control over imposing furloughs and that the decision lies with the governor.

As a state agency, she said the DOE is executing the furlough plan at the governor’s direction.

The DOE has worked with the governor to try to minimize the impact of furloughs on instructional days, Kalani said.