Teachers union still foggy about labor dispute

Leaders of the Hawaii State Teachers Association will be heading to schools soon to talk to teachers about the union’s next steps in attempting to end a protracted labor dispute.

But what they will be saying remains unclear.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced last week that federal mediation had ended after the union walked away for undisclosed reasons.

HSTA told teachers in an internal newsletter that mediation "took a turn for the worse" on Oct. 2, and "we chose to end it."

"In the coming weeks, we will be visiting your schools and sharing more information about how we got to this point," HSTA President Wil Okabe said in the newsletter. "We will also be sharing the direction we will be going to win a contract that regains the respect and dignity that has been denied to our teachers since July 2011."

Many had hoped that federal mediation would succeed where conventional negotiations had not.

Joan Husted, former executive director of HSTA, said she was surprised mediation broke down and said the two sides should resume negotiations.

"You cannot ever settle a collective bargaining issue unless you’re talking to each other," she said. "I do not know what the strategy is that they’re (the union) using. I would recommend they go back to the table."

While it’s possible that mediation could resume, that appears unlikely.

Donalyn Dela Cruz, spokes­woman for the governor, said the union has been asked to return to talks. But HSTA has not expressed interest in doing so, she said.

In a letter Friday to Neil Dietz, the state’s chief negotiator, Okabe wrote that since January, "each time we return to the table, the employer has offered less and less. This is not progress, that is regressive."

Okabe could not be reached for comment Monday.

The dispute with teachers began in July 2011, when the state unilaterally implemented a "last, best and final" contract offer for HSTA’s 12,500 members. The "last, best" offer included wage reductions and higher medical premiums.

The labor turmoil has threatened Hawaii’s $75 million Race to the Top school improvements grant, now on "high risk" status, and has drawn national attention.

National industry newspaper Education Week said Monday that in the wake of the failed mediation, some observers believe Hawaii teachers could strike, and compared the state’s labor unrest to that in Chicago last month when teachers walked the picket lines for seven days after contract talks failed.

Right now, Hawaii teachers can’t strike because of a pending prohibited-practice complaint before the Hawaii Labor Relations Board. The complaint was filed over the state’s decision to impose its "last, best" offer, and the union has asked the state Supreme Court to compel the labor board to issue a quick ruling in the case.

The union has stressed that a strike is a last resort. But in filing the petition, the union said a board decision was needed to restore the union’s right to strike, to pursue relief in Circuit Court or both.

Both sides wrapped up arguments before the board four months ago, and it’s not clear how long it might take for a ruling in the case.

Alan Isbell, a teacher at Wai­luku Elementary School and a critic of HSTA’s leadership, said morale among teachers is low and that some are calling for a strike.

"Since there doesn’t seem to be a heck of a lot else going for the union, as far as I’m concerned we should strike," he said. Teachers are angry, he said. "People have asked me, ‘Where are the signs?’"

Isbell, who is also a union representative for his school, said mediation gave "most of us a reason to hope."

He said he has not been told what the union will do next, but expects those details will come soon.

Meanwhile, teachers continue to work under the "last, best" offer, which expires June 30.

Other public employee unions have already begun talks for new contracts to begin July 1, but HSTA has declined to submit an offer because of the continuing dispute.

Instead, HSTA has repeatedly called on the state to honor a six-year, proposed contract agreement that teachers at first rejected, then approved in May. Gov. Abercrombie has said the agreement is invalid and a new deal has to be made.

Under the six-year proposal, teachers would continue to take 5 percent wage reductions through June 30 before moving to a new salary schedule that recognizes teachers’ years of service.

The Department of Education would also move to a revised teacher evaluation system linked to student performance. Teachers rated "effective" or higher would be eligible for annual raises.