HB 810, HD1, SD1 Relating to Collective Bargaining
The Committee on Ways and Means
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
1:30 pm, Room 211
Attention: Chair Jill Tokuda, Vice Chair Donovan Dela Cruz and
Members of the Committee
The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee to support the passage of the HB 810, HD1 version of the measure. The Senate Draft 1 version of the measure removed the appropriate remedy for Bargaining Units 01, 05 and 07 for conflict resolution, since these bargaining units are not subject to binding arbitration.
Chapter 89-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, outlines the scope of negotiations and consultation and Chapter 89-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, outlines the resolution of disputes and impasse procedures between the exclusive representative and the employer. The amendments to these respective sections outlined in HB 810 HD1 will provide the appropriate pathway for all bargaining units to resolve disputes between the exclusive representative and the employer regarding contributions to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF).
UHPA urges the committee to support passage of the HB 810, HD1 version.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kristeen Hanselman
Executive Director
HB 810, HD1 Relating to Collective Bargaining
The House Committee on Finance
Thursday, February 23, 2017
1:00 pm, Room 308
Attention: Chair Sylvia Luke, Vice Chair Ty Cullen and Members of the Committee
The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee to support passage of HB 810, HD1.
Chapter 89-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, outlines the scope of negotiations and consultation and Chapter 89-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, outlines the resolution of disputes and impasse procedures between the exclusive representative and the employer. The amendments to these respective sections outlined in HB 810 HD1 will provide the appropriate pathway for resolving disputes between the exclusive representative and the employer regarding contributions to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF).
UHPA urges the committee to support HB 810, HD1.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kristeen Hanselman
Executive Director
HCR 170/HR 120 Urging EUTF to Divest from Fossil Fuel Investments
The House Committee on Labor & Public Employment
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
10:30 a.m., Room 309
RE: HCR 170/HR 120 Urging The Employees’ Retirement System and Employer–Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) to Divest from Fossil Fuel Investments
Attention: Chair Mark Nakashima, Vice Chair Jarrett Keohokalole and Members of the Committee
The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) supports the intent of these resolutions, which are urging the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) and EUTF to divest the majority interest of their respective fossil fuel investments by 2021.
Both the ERS and EUTF have governing Boards of Trustees that have the jurisdiction in this matter. Passage of these measures will identify divestment of fossil fuel investments as a fiscal concern that needs to be considered.
We thank you for the opportunity to support the intent of these measures.
Respectfully submitted,
Kristeen Hanselman Executive Director
HCR 38/HR 10 Requesting the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) to Review its Health Care Coverage for Retirees and Their Family Members
The House Committee on Labor & Public Employment
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
10:30 a.m., Room 309
RE: HCR 38/HR 10 Requesting the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) to Review its Health Care Coverage for Retirees and Their Family Members
Attention: Chair Mark Nakashima, Vice Chair Jarrett Keohokalole and Members of the Committee
The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee to pass HCR 38/HR 10 to encourage the EUTF to review its health care coverage for retirees and their family members, and specifically to review the issue of the extension of dependent coverage to the age of 26 for the EUTF Retirees, which would align the EUTF Retiree Plan with the EUTF Active Plans.
The EUTF Board has the jurisdiction to take action on extending this benefit to the Retiree beneficiaries. At the EUTF Board Meeting on March 17, 2011 the Employee Trustees all voted unanimously in favor (with one Trustee abstaining due to a conflict), while the Employer Trustees voted unanimously in opposition to extending this benefit to the Retiree beneficiaries. Due the rules governing the EUTF and the requirement to have a majority of both the Employee and Employer Trustees, the measure failed to pass. It is a subject that has continued to come up at EUTF Board Meetings due to the negative impact it has on the Retiree beneficiaries.
We respectfully urge your support of these measures.
Respectfully submitted,
Kristeen Hanselman Executive Director
HB 2015, HD1 Relating to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund
The Senate Committee on Judiciary & Labor
and
The Senate Committee on Government Operations
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
1: 17 p.m., Room 414
RE: HB 2015, HD1, Relating to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund
Attention: Chairs Gilbert Keith-Agaran and Donna Mercado Kim, Vice Chairs Maile Shimabukuro and Les Ihara, Jr. and Members of the Committees
The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) urges the committee to support HB 2015, HD1, that makes fundamental changes to the structure of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF). We can all agree that the EUTF is not functioning as it was originally intended, which concerns both employees and employers.
Benefits are an integral component of employee compensation, and this measure would assist in making improvements to the EUTF by allowing:
- Exemptions to Chapter 103-D Hawaii Revised Statutes Procurement Code providing flexibility in selecting benefit plan carriers, consultants and actuaries
- Changes to the composition of the EUTF Board to better represent the beneficiaries
- The Board to retain legal counsel other than the AG’s office
- Individual unions and employers to develop a sub-trust and sub-board of trustees to administer that bargaining unit’s contribution benefits if they negotiate a specific contribution to apply only to that unit
- Health plans provided based on collectively bargained contributions from both the employer and employees
Testimony provided in opposition to this measure in prior committee hearings argue that this bill would diminish the benefits derived from economies of scale arising from larger group packages and group rates. This assertion is inaccurate. The larger the group, the larger the risk pool, which translates to more credible rates for that risk pool. However, a more credible risk pool does not necessarily equate to more favorable rates. Rates are calculated by the utilization of a risk pool, the benefit offerings, and health care trend (expected future health care costs). A smaller population with more control over its benefits can better control costs and have lower rates.
UHPA urges the committee to support HB 2015, HD1.
Respectfully submitted,
Kristeen Hanselman Executive Director
HB 2012, HD1 Relating to Collective Bargaining
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
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