Add-ons aimed at reaching deal with HSTA, state says

At a bargaining session in June, the state tried to address "deal-breakers" for the teachers union in hopes of ensuring a "last, best and final" offer with wage reductions was approved, Board of Education member Jim Williams said Thursday in testimony.

Speaking before the Hawaii Labor Relations Board for a third day, Williams highlighted the last-minute efforts the state made to try to reach a deal with teachers before imposing a contract offer. The imposition of the contract was a first in public-sector negotiations in Hawaii.

Williams said the 10 items, which included increases in preparation time, were designed to make the "last, best" offer more palatable — and a better sell to HSTA’s executive board. He pointed out union negotiators had two months earlier tentatively agreed to a 1.5 percent pay cut, furloughs and increases to health insurance premiums.

Williams’ testimony, which ran Thursday for about two hours, wrapped up the first week of proceedings before the labor board in a "prohibited practice" complaint filed by HSTA.

Williams, the first witness called in the case, has testified for nine hours altogether.

Proceedings resume Wednesday, and Williams will return to the witness stand, followed by BOE Chairman Don Horner. Also Wednesday, the labor board will take up whether to allow the union to call the governor and several legislators to testify.

The union’s case alleges the state violated members’ rights when it unilaterally implemented its "last, best" offer on July 1, following the union’s rejection of the offer.

The "last, best" offer included pay cuts, furloughs and higher health insurance premiums the state says were needed to avert layoffs or cuts to instructional time.

Williams testified Wednesday that the state tried to avoid unilateral implementation, while also making clear to the union — at the June 21 informal bargaining session — that it would proceed with imposing its "last, best" offer if a deal wasn’t reached.

He testified that at the June 21 meeting, Horner asked union negotiators, "What’s it going to take?" for them to accept the "last, best and final" offer.

When the state unilaterally implemented the final offer July 1, after the union’s rejection of the proposal by its board, it included the items hammered out in the June 21 session. Williams said the items were "offered in the spirit" of reaching a deal.