HB 2012, Relating to Collective Bargaining

/in , , ,

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 2012, Relating to Collective Bargaining

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

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee to support HB 2012,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 long­term.

UHPA urges the committee to support HB 2012.

Respectfully submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                      Executive Director

SB 2940, Relating to Technology Transfer at the University of Hawai‘i

/in ,

The Committee on Higher Education and The Arts
and
The Committee on Economic Development, Environment and Technology

Thursday, February 11, 2016
1:25 p.m., Room 224

RE: SB 2940, Relating to Technology Transfer at the University of Hawai‘i

Attention:           Chairs Brian Taniguchi and Glenn Wakai, Vice Chairs Lorraine Inouye and Sam Slom                     Members of the Committees

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committees to
support the passage of SB 2940 clarifying sections of the State Ethics Code in order to assist the timely technology transfer activities at the University of Hawai‘i.

The proposed amendment would be in line with other Universities who have enacted exemptions from specific statutes in order to support their respective Universities. This benefits both the State and the University by removing current roadblocks and creating an effective and efficient transfer of the results of research in a collaborative manner.

UHPA supports the passage of SB2940.

Respectfully submitted

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                       Executive Director

SB 2398, Relating to Collective Bargaining

/in , ,

The Committee on Judiciary and Labor
and
The Committee on Higher Education and The Arts Thursday, February 11, 2016
1:15 p.m., Room 224

RE: SB 2398, Relating to Collective Bargaining

Attention:           Chairs Gilbert Keith­Agaran and Brian Taniguchi,
Vice Chairs Maile Shimabukuro and Lorraine Inouye and Members of the Committees

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committees to
support passage of SB 2398 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 SB2398.

Respectively submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                            Executive Director

HB 1940, HD1, Relating to Collective Bargaining

/in , ,

The House Committee on Higher Education

Tuesday, February 9, 2016
2:00 p.m., Room 309

RE: HB 1940, HD1, Relating to Collective Bargaining

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

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee
support passage of HB 1940, HD1, that amends Section 89­6 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.

U H P A  urgest passage of H B 1 9 4 0 , H D 1 .

Respectively submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                    Executive Director

SB 2434, Relating to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund

/in , ,

The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor

Friday, February 5, 2016

9:30 a.m.,  Room 016

RE: SB2434, Relating to The Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund

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

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee to support SB2434, that provides pertinent exemptions needed in Chapter 103-D 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 SB2434.

Respectfully submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                  Executive Director

SB 2435, Relating to Collective Bargaining

/in , , ,

The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

9:30 a.m.,  Room 016

RE: SB2435, 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) urges the committee to support SB2435, 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 unions’ 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 SB2435.

Respectfully submitted,

 Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                Executive Director

HB 1940, Relating to Collective Bargaining

/in , ,

The House Committee on Labor & Public Employment

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

9:30 a.m.,  Rm 309

RE: HB1940, 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 HB1940 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 passage of HB1940.

Respectively submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                Executive Director

HB 1685, Relating to the University of Hawai‘i

/in , ,

The House Committee on Labor & Public Employment

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

9:30 am,  Room 309

RE: HB 1685, Relating to the University of Hawai‘i

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

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee to oppose passage of HB1685 as it prohibits the University of Hawai‘i from seeking the highly qualified faculty in a highly competitive vocation.

There are relatively few members of the faculty who qualify at this level of income.  The few who are in this category contribute financially through grants, endowments and other financial contributions they bring to the University system.  The financial contributions of these highly skilled, specialized faculty can amount to two or three times their salary.

It would appear that HB1685 would have a punitive impact on retaining, recruiting and growing a state of the art teaching institution in Hawai‘i and be counterproductive to the work of this legislative body.

UHPA urges the committee to oppose HB1685.

Respectfully submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                                 Executive Director

HB 1556, Relating to the University of Hawai‘i

/in , ,

The House Committee on Labor & Public Employment

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

9:30 a.m.,  Room 309

RE: HB1556, Relating to the University of Hawai‘i

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 the passage of HB1556 that provides faculty the opportunity to serve their communities not only as an educator but as a public servant.

The value added to the student of a faculty member who has experienced the process of being elected to public office, serving the people through knowing the community needs and crafting the language for county ordinances or state statutes that improve their lives is not found in academic text.  This experience is where praxis intersects with theory and excellence is achieved.

The University of Hawai‘i faculty are members of communities throughout the State of Hawai‘i and must be provided equal opportunity, just like other citizens of Hawai‘i to hold public office.

UHPA urges passage of HB1556

Respectfully submitted,

 Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                         Executive Director

HB 2411, Relating to Technology Transfer at the University of Hawai‘i

/in ,

             

The House Committee on Higher Education

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

2:00 p.m, Room 309

RE: HB2411, Relating to Technology Transfer at 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

support the passage of HB2411 clarifying sections of the State Ethics Code in order to assist the timely technology transfer activities at the University of Hawai‘i.

The proposed amendment would be in line with other Universities who have enacted exemptions from specific statutes in order to support their respective Universities.  This benefits both the State and the University by removing current roadblocks and creating an effective and efficient transfer of the results of research in a collaborative manner.

UHPA supports the passage of HB2411.

Respectfully submitted

Kristeen Hanselman                                                                                                                                   Executive Director