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