HB 2012, HD1 Relating to Collective Bargaining

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The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor

Thursday, March 17, 2016

9:30 a.m.,  Room 016

RE: HB 2012, HD1, Relating to Collective Bargaining

Attention: Chair Gilbert Keith-Agaran, Vice Chair Maile Shimabukuro and Members of the Committee

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) supports the purpose and intent of HB 2012, HD1, which will allow the unions the ability to negotiate not only the contributions to the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF), but also the benefits provided through the health plans.  

We do respectfully request that HB 2012, HD1 revert back to its original form, allowing an arbitration panel to fully weigh employee’s’ salary and benefit package for dispute resolution purposes.

This Bill, in its original form, reinforces the union’s belief that benefits are an integral part of employee compensation and should be negotiated between unions and employers.  Negotiating both premiums and benefits provides unions the ability to identify benefit features that meet the needs of their members without the loss of key coverage.  The ability to negotiate will provide greater incentives which can assist in controlling health care costs over the long-term.

UHPA appreciates the opportunity to provide comments and urges the committee to support passing this measure in its original form.  

Respectfully submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                          Executive Director

SB 2556, SD1, Making an Appropriation for the Annual Required Contribution For The Hawaii Employer-Union Benefits Trust Fund

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The House Committee on Labor & Public Employment

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

10:30 a.m., Room 309

RE:  AMENDED SB 2556, SD1 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE ANNUAL REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION FOR THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION BENEFITS TRUST FUND

Attention:  Chair Mark Nakashima, Vice Chair Jarrett Keohokalole and Members of the Committee

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee  opposes the intent of SB 2556 that seeks to make an additional appropriation above the the required contribution towards the The Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF).

This measure seeks to appropriate funds above and beyond those already in statute.  Anything above and beyond the statutory requirement will be taking away funding from other high priority items facing our community, such as homelessness, educational programs, and infrastructure. This measure assumes that at some future date, there will be a rapid decline in the fiscal integrity of the EUTF or some sort of catastrophic event that will require the additional funding.  There are far more pressing concerns for our community at this time.

UHPA opposes the intent of SB 2556.

Respectively submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                                  Executive Director

SB 2398, SD2, Relating to Collective Bargaining

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The House Committee on Labor & Public Employment

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

10:30 a.m.,  Room 309

RE: SB 2398, SD2 Relating to Collective Bargaining

Attention:    Chair Mark Nakashima, Vice Chair Jarrett Keohokalole and Members of the Committee

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee to support passage of SB 2398, SD2 that amends Section 89-6 of the Hawai‘i Revised Statute to advance the interests of graduate assistants.  These employees are essential to instruction and research that contributes to the overall success of the University of Hawai‘i.  Graduate Assistants are employees in the full sense of the term with continuing access to positions based on job and academic performance.

UHPA supports the rights of graduate assistants to organize and collectively bargain.  Such a right is consistent with the labor tradition in our state and is compatible with an academic environment whereby the majority of employees have access to representation.
UHPA supports the passage of SB 2398, SD2.

 

Respectively submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                                 Executive Director

HB 2015, HD1, Relating to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefit Trust Fund

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The House Committee on Finance
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
1:00 p.m.,  Room 308

RE: HB 2012, HD1, Relating to Collective Bargaining

Attention: Chair Sylvia Luke, Vice Chair Scott Nishimoto and Members of the Committee

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee to support HB 2012, HD1, that provides unions the ability to negotiate contributions to the Employer Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) and the benefits provided through the health plans.

This Bill reinforces the union’s belief that benefits are an integral part of employee compensation and should be negotiated between unions and employers.  Negotiating both premiums and benefits provides unions the ability to identify benefit features that meet the needs of their members without the loss of key coverage.

The ability to negotiate will provide greater incentives which can assist in controlling costs over the long-term.

UHPA urges the committee to support HB 2012, HD1.

Respectfully submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman
Executive Director

HB 2012, HD1, Relating to Collective Bargaining

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The House Committee on Finance
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
1:00 p.m.,  Room 308

RE: HB 2012, HD1, Relating to Collective Bargaining

Attention: Chair Sylvia Luke, Vice Chair Scott Nishimoto and Members of the Committee

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee to support HB 2012, HD1, that provides unions the ability to negotiate contributions to the Employer Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) and the benefits provided through the health plans.

This Bill reinforces the union’s belief that benefits are an integral part of employee compensation and should be negotiated between unions and employers.  Negotiating both premiums and benefits provides unions the ability to identify benefit features that meet the needs of their members without the loss of key coverage.

The ability to negotiate will provide greater incentives which can assist in controlling costs over the long-term.

UHPA urges the committee to support HB 2012, HD1.

Respectfully submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman
Executive Director

SB 2398, SD1, Relating to Collective Bargaining

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To The Committee on Ways and Means

Friday, February 26, 2016

9:35 a.m.,  Room 211

RE: SB 2398, SD1, Relating to Collective Bargaining
Attention: Chair Jill Tokuda, Vice Chair Donovan Dela Cruz and Members of the Committee
The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urge the Committee to support passage of SB 2398, SD1 that amends Section 89-6 of the Hawai‘i Revised Statute to advance the interests of graduate assistants.  These employees are essential to instruction and research that contributes to the overall success of the University of Hawai‘i.  Graduate Assistants are employees in the full sense of the term with continuing access to positions based on job and academic performance.

UHPA supports the rights of graduate assistants to organize and collectively bargain.  Such a right is consistent with the labor tradition in our state and is compatible with an academic environment whereby the majority of employees have access to representation.

UHPA supports the passage of SB 2398, SD1.

 

Respectively submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                                    Executive Director

HB1625, HD1, Relating to The University of Hawai‘i

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The House Committee on Finance

Thursday, February 25, 2016

3:00 p.m.,  Room 308

RE: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I

Attention: Chair Sylvia Luke, Vice Chair Scott Nishimoto and Members of the Committee

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee to oppose HB 1625, HD1.  It is a proposal that substantially alters the ability of the University of Hawai‘i and its faculty members to determine the direction and means to advance research programs.

It inappropriately broadens the scope of legislative oversight to dictate the management of research programs and define the compensation and working conditions of Bargaining Unit 7 members. It’s provisions undermine UHPA as the exclusive bargaining agent and seeks to circumvent the union’s right to negotiate compensation and working conditions.

UHPA urges the Committee to defer this proposed legislation.

Respectfully submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                              Executive Director

 

HB 1625, HD1, Relating To The University of Hawai‘i

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The House Committee on Higher Education

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

2:02 p.m.,  Room 309

RE: HB 1625, HD1, Relating to The University of Hawai‘i

Attention:    Chair Isaac Choy, Vice Chair Linda Ichiyama and Members of the Committee

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee to oppose HB 1625, HD1.  It is a proposal that substantially alters the ability of the University of Hawaii and its faculty members to determine the direction and means to advance research programs.

It inappropriately broadens the scope of legislative oversight to dictate the management of research programs and define the compensation and working conditions of Bargaining Unit 7 members. It’s provisions undermine UHPA as the exclusive bargaining agent and seeks to circumvent to union’s right to negotiate compensation and working conditions.

UHPA urges the Committee to defer this proposed legislation.

Respectfully submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                     Executive Director

SB 2399, Relating to the Research Corporation of The University of Hawai‘i

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The Committee on Government Operations
and
The Committee on Higher Education and the Arts
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
2:15 p.m., Room 414
RE: SB 2399, Relating to the Research Corporation of The University of Hawai‘i

 Attention: Chairs Donna Kim and Brian Taniguchi,
Vice Chairs Les Ihara and Lorraine Inouye and Members of the Committees

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) strongly urges both committees to oppose SB 2399. This bill would deliver two devastating blows to the State of Hawai‘i.

First, it would require the Governor’s office to create an administrative department for the sole purpose of project review. The department would need to develop an appropriate rubric to be used to analyze project submissions; specific to the purpose and intent of each required hire.

Second, the astronomical impact this would effectuate on faculty to accomplish research projects is insurmountable. The time constraints alone would be detrimental to many research projects. The revenue stream that is generated through grants and other funding sources for many of the research projects is also severely diminished and should be taken into consideration. Finally, there is an adverse effect on retention of highly skilled research faculty and the ability to recruit quality faculty. When an academic void is created it may be difficult to recapture.

These two reasons suggest that perhaps the Governor is not the appropriate person to approve “request for, amendment to, or supplement to research corporation services for a project” as stated as an amendment to Chapter 76, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes.

UHPA strongly urges both committee’s to oppose SB 2399.
Respectfully submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                           Executive Director

HB 2015, Relating to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund

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The House Committee on Labor & Public Employment

and
The House Committee on Public Safety Friday,

February 12, 2016
10:00 a.m., Room 309

RE: HB 2015, Relating to the Hawaii Employer-­Union Health Benefits Trust Fund

Attention: Chairs Mark Nakashima and Gregg Takayama,
Vice Chairs Jarrett Keohokalole and Kyle Yamashita and Members of the Committee’s

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee to support HB 2015,that provides pertinent exemptions needed in Chapter 103­D Hawaii Revised Statutes Procurement Code, restructures the composition of the EUTF Board, retaining legal counsel other than the AG’s office and health plans based on collective bargaining contributions from both employers and employees.

UHPA supports these changes as a step in the right direction. Greater flexibility in response time to problems, a more representative Board serving its membership, an independent legal counsel, and appropriate contributions.

UHPA urges the committee to support HB 2015.

Respectfully submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                     Executive Director