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