The House Committee on Judiciary
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
2:00 p.m.

SB 1011, SD 1, HD 1, Relating to Collective Bargaining.

Dear Chairperson Rhoads and Committee Members:

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) has long advocated for changes in the Hawaii bargaining statute that would allow EUTF contributions to be subject to impasse procedures including arbitration or strike as provided for each respective public sector bargaining unit.

The current amended measure has placed language within that would remove the American Arbitration Association (AAA) as the party that conducts the process for selection of a neutral third party when arbitration is sought. The AAA is a long established organization known for its integrity in working through a process which there can be difficulty for all parties. The current amendment, which replaces AAA with Hawaii Labor Relations Board (HLRB) contains no standards for selection and impartiality. When arbitration is needed it may require expertise and skills not necessarily found in the state. The amendment may, in fact, diminish the quality and fairness of the arbitration process.

UHPA encourages the Committee to return to the original SB 1011 proposed measure that maintains the current statutory provisions that require use of the American Arbitration Association.

Respectively submitted,

Kristeen Hanselman
Associate Executive Director