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