The University of Hawaii’s faculty union has voted to end its affiliation with the National Education Association, despite serious concerns from some members.
The affiliation will officially end Sept. 1.
The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly voted Saturday on the issue and told members after the vote that the action "has no impact on the UHPA collective bargaining agreement or on any employment related compensation or benefit."
The issue generated plenty of debate among UHPA members.
Of 1,199 members who participated in a straw poll before the vote, 49.4 percent said UHPA should continue its NEA affiliation, 35.4 percent approved of disaffiliation and 15.3 were indifferent.
Catherine Sophian, a UH professor of psychology, said cutting off ties with NEA went against the will of members.
"How is the union being run, and is it being run for the best interests of the UH faculty or is it serving the leadership?" she said.
UHPA Executive Director J.N. Musto did not return a call for comment.
In an email to members, UHPA President Adrienne Valdez said 13 of the 26 people on UHPA’s board of directors voted in favor of disaffiliation, 10 voted against the issue and one abstained.
Musto, who supported disaffiliation, has said that NEA is not providing anything to the union that it couldn’t do on its own.
Musto also argues that the NEA’s views do not represent the interests of higher education.
Most labor unions are affiliated with a national entity, which in exchange for payments provides support and guidance.
There are at least two other local unions without national affiliation, however: the union for Hawaii police officers and the Kamehameha Schools Faculty Association.
