State says it 'bargained in good faith' with teachers

The state has filed its response with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to a “prohibited practice” complaint from the teachers union.

The governor, schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi and Board of Education Chairman Don Horner said in a joint statement today that the filing provided “details of how the state bargained in good faith for many months to reach agreement with negotiators representing teachers.”

“Our focus remains on working together with educators and parents to make this upcoming school year a truly outstanding one,” the statement said.

The response, filed at 4:04 p.m. today, said that “during many months of bargaining the employer and HSTA (Hawaii State Teachers Association) exchanged extensive quantities of proposals and counterproposals, with the employer alone developing over 50 versions.”

HSTA filed the “prohibited practice” complaint after the state unilaterally implement a “last, best and final” contract offer July 1, with pay cuts and higher health care premiums.

The state has said that the labor savings were needed to avoid layoffs and cuts to instructional time, while the union argues the action violated the state Constitution and members’ rights.

No hearing date on the matter has been set.