Attention: UH-Manoa Faculty

 

The UH Manoa administration has provided UHPA a list of bargaining unit members that have received non-renewal notices or have chosen to leave or retire as a result of the 4% budget reduction implemented by Chancellor Hinshaw. UHPA is gathering information to ascertain whether the contract provisions have been followed and to identify problems.

In addition to the faculty that have been non-renewed, there are reports of reductions in faculty appointments from 11 months to 9 months or to some period that is less than the current appointment such as from full-time to half-time. Questions regarding order of reduction where a less senior faculty member has been retained over a faculty member with greater seniority are also present.

UHPA has received numerous requests for assistance and is working to ensure that faculty rights under the collective bargaining agreement are not being violated. UHPA needs to be contacted if you believe your rights have been violated.

To date the majority of non-renewals are subject to the provisions of Article XIII, Faculty Appointments Not Eligible for Tenure. If you are a lecturer, part-time faculty, or temporary faculty these provisions are important to determine if you have been afforded the rights under the contract.

There are other circumstances that may exist not addressed by Article XIII but relate to changes in faculty status as a part of a budget reduction. Please inform UHPA of the circumstances and actions taken.

Faculty should provide the following information:

•    Name and best contact information for the summer; faculty position, campus, department or college, initial hire date, appointment term and source of funding for your position.

•    Copies of administrative letter and/or documents relating to a non-renewal or other changes in status due to the budget reductions.

•    Include details that can be helpful to understand the specific problem you are experiencing.

Send the information to Kris Hanselman, UHPA Associate Executive Director, at kris@uhpa.org or fax it to the UHPA office at (808)593-2160.

Please respond by June 26th.

 

UHPA Office Physically Closed but Virtual Office Continues…

We will be checking our email and voice messages as usual.  To leave general messages, please call (808)593-2157.  If you need to reach a specific individual, please call (808)593-9652 and find the individual’s extension below. 


J. N. Musto(Executive Director)

musto@uhpa.org

ext. 223


Kristeen Hanselman (Associate Executive Director)

kris@uhpa.org

ext. 227


James D. Kardash, Ph.D. (Associate Executive Director)

kardash@uhpa.org

 ext. 226


Linda K. Sawai (Associate Executive Director/Comptroller)

lsawai@uhpa.org

ext. 228

SUPPORT STAFF

Pamela L. Tsuru (Administrative Asst)

pamt@uhpa.org

ext. 224


Rovena K. Varde (Technical Specialist)

vena@uhpa.org

ext. 221


Kathy Yamashita (Secretary II)

kathy@uhpa.org

ext. 225

UHPA Office Physically Closed but Virtual Office Continues…

We will be checking our email and voice messages as usual.  To leave general messages, please call (808)593-2157.  If you need to reach a specific individual, please call (808)593-9652 and find the individual’s extension below. 


J. N. Musto(Executive Director)

musto@uhpa.org

ext. 223


Kristeen Hanselman (Associate Executive Director)

kris@uhpa.org

ext. 227


James D. Kardash, Ph.D. (Associate Executive Director)

kardash@uhpa.org

 ext. 226


Linda K. Sawai (Associate Executive Director/Comptroller)

lsawai@uhpa.org

ext. 228

SUPPORT STAFF

Pamela L. Tsuru (Administrative Asst)

pamt@uhpa.org

ext. 224


Rovena K. Varde (Technical Specialist)

vena@uhpa.org

ext. 221


Kathy Yamashita (Secretary II)

kathy@uhpa.org

ext. 225

Simple-minded Solutions

Unfortunately, like the governor, The Maui News has decided (Today’s Editorial, June 3) to back a quick, anti-union, easy and pretty lazy and unimaginative solution to the state’s fiscal crisis by agreeing that I lose a significant amount of my salary and benefits earned over 34 years as a public servant, teaching at and creating an excellent community college for Maui. You get what you pay for citizens!

Granted, we need to balance the budget, live more within our means and do exactly as the Hawaii Constitution demands, but there are far more equitable ways to achieve that balance – ways totally ignored by those charged with maintaining the public safety, education and well-being of the citizens.

Offer early retirement. Agree to pay some or all of the substantial cuts suggested to employees once the state is stable. Agree to place employees back at their pre-crisis pay levels, as they did in California several times.

Such creative, positive and partnership approaches to solving a “statewide” crisis were not taken by the governor and her staff. What we see is a political, easy, union-busting approach that will negatively influence this state for years far longer than the economic crisis we face. Unfortunately, The Maui News fails as well as it supports such simple-minded solutions.

If treated with the respect due me for my public service, I would gladly face and accept a salary reduction, if in doing so I felt the state assured me some positive future prospects. As of now, I have been unfairly targeted, and irrespective of my responsibilities for the educational future of this community am a victim of simple-minded, uncreative leadership.

Vinnie Linares

Kula

Voting for the Neighborhood Boards is Underway

If you are eligible to vote in this year’s Neighborhood Board election, you will have received your 9 digit passcode in the mail by now. This passcode along with the last four digits of your social security allows you to cast your ballot on the internet or over the telephone through May 22nd. This is the first time within the United States that a government agency has conducted an election using these methods. We encourage you to exercise your right to vote!!  The City also has free computers available at the following sites:

Honolulu Hale Courtyard, 530 South King Street

  • Monday – Friday     8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Kapolei Hale Conference Room, 1000 Ulu’ohi’a Street

  • Monday – Friday    8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Windward City Satellite City Hall, 45-480 Kaneohe Bay Drive, Unit C06

  • Tuesday – Saturday (not open on Monday) 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

More information on the election and the Neighborhood Board system can be found at www.honolulu.gov or by calling 768-3717. Board with vacancies starting in July can appoint qualified residents to fill those seats.