Hawaii needs its public unions to work together

From plantation roots to hotel branches, from private to public sector, from employer to employee, Hawaii’s workforces are diverse, complex and dynamic. And it’s all brought into starker relief against today’s backdrop of fiscal difficulties, job struggles and an unstable economy. In honor of Labor Day, the Star-Advertiser asked a trio of local experts to reflect on the status of labor in Hawaii today.

Hawaii’s public employee unions are in trouble. Public employee positions are declining; labor unity is fractured; public confidence is eroding. So Labor Day is a good time to think about the problems and the possible solutions.

This spring, Dr. Thomas Kochan from MIT held several labor/management meetings to discuss anti-union events in Wisconsin. The question often asked: "Can it happen here?" With rare exception, the audience’s answer was "No, Hawaii is different."

Well, Hawaii is different. The attacks on public employee unions are subtler than in Wisconsin and 20 other states. But, attacks on Hawaii public employee collective bargaining — Chapter 89, HRS — have occurred since the early 1970s. Over the years, the Hawaii’s Legislature has made a number of detrimental changes to Chapter 89. It is what the Navajos call a death by a thousand cuts.

Since those discussions about Wisconsin, two new events occurred. No one expected that a progressive Democratic governor would take the dramatic step of imposing a "last, best and final offer" in labor negotiations. The courts will make the final decision but, certainly, the myth that a progressive Democrat will always protect organized labor has been put to rest.

"I have seen the enemy and they is us." So said Pogo (for the uninitiated, Pogo was a cartoon character and very wise). That is the perfect description for the very bitter dispute raging around the Hawaii State Teachers Association’s legal case.

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly and Hawaii Government Employees Association strongly believe that if HSTA loses its case, all public employees lose; if HSTA wins, all public employees still lose. A cursory review of the legal case highlights why the two unions believe this.

ARE THERE solutions for the public employee labor woes? One obvious solution is that the public employee unions can stop fighting among themselves and work collaboratively to stop the attacks on collective bargaining. What is needed is for one leader to step up, just one leader to extend a hand.

The second solution involves returning to Hawaii’s collaborative collective bargaining roots. Most public employee unions and managers have been trained in the collaborative process. The future of government — whether it is education, social services, finances, etc. — needs the creativity and dedication of its public employees. It is clear that adversarial bargaining is not working. A return to collaboration is called for because all public employee unions have a stake in efficient and well-functioning government. Government has a stake in well trained, well paid and highly motivated employees.

A THIRD solution is for unions to stop assuming every Democrat will protect them. Many Democrats today are not the Democrats of the 1950s and 1960s. Unions need to seek out and support candidates who are committed to supporting workers and their families.

The fourth solution involves the collaboration of union newsletters and webpage editors in developing an aggressive plan to inform the public of the value of public employees and the unions that represent them. For example, HSTA’s work to inform the public of how teachers spend their own money to help public school students was invaluable to the public’s understanding of teachers’ value.

Certainly, there are a number of other solutions. All of public employee unions working together can develop a workable list. Hawaii needs its public employee unions. They built the public employee middle class. They promoted and protect civil rights. They provide due process for public employees. This Labor Day is the perfect time for public unions to prove Pogo was wrong. Will someone please step up?

Joan Lee Husted is former executive director of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. She serves on the boards of PBS Hawaii and the Aloha United Way.