Hawaii Gov Rejects Union’s Mediation Request
Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Monday rejected the Hawaii State Teachers Association‘s request for mediation of the contract he unilaterally imposed on teachers July 1.
In a joint statement, Abercrombie, Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi and Education Board Chairman Don Horner accused the union of negotiating through the media
“The HSTA filed its complaint with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board (HLRB) and we respect that process,” said the statement. “We continue to be open to mediation through HLRB.”
Last month, the union filed a legal complaint against the state that said the contract violated teachers’ collective bargaining rights. But HSTA leaders said they saw last week in an opportunity to settle their dispute with the state in private instead of before the . Other unions had raised concerns about the potential ramifications of the case.
In the video, dated Aug. 2, Abercrombie tells President Wayne Joseph that he would prefer handling the matter in private rather than before a legal body in public.
“I’m ready today if we want to do do mediation or whatever it is,” he says. “I’m ready.”
HSTA President Wil Okabe told Civil Beat on Saturday that the union board took Abercrombie literally, so sent a letter to the governor taking him up on his “offer to renew a dialogue with us” and requesting arbitration.
But the statement released late Monday rejected the request. It said the union already declined the state’s offer of mediation earlier this year.
The statement added that arbitration was not an option.
“It should be made clear that mediation is different from arbitration,” he said. “Arbitration, which we have never offered, is not included in Hawaii鈥檚 statutory collective bargaining process with the HSTA.”
The response from state leaders means that hearings in the HLRB case will begin Wednesday, as scheduled, unless something happens in the interim.
Read Abercrombie’s full statement below:
JOINT STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO HSTA LETTER
Honolulu 鈥 On the evening of August 6, 2011, the Hawai’i State Teachers Association (HSTA) sent a letter to Governor Neil Abercrombie. Today, Governor Abercrombie, Schools Superintendent Kathy Matayoshi and Board of Education Chairman Don Horner issued the following statement:
鈥淪ince negotiations with Hawai’i State Teachers Association began last fall, we have been committed to finding a way forward. This included offering mediation, which was turned down by HSTA negotiators.
鈥淣egotiations via the media are not productive. The HSTA filed its complaint with the Hawai’i Labor Relations Board (HLRB) and we respect that process. We continue to be open to mediation through HLRB.
鈥淚t should be made clear that mediation is different from arbitration. Arbitration, which we have never offered, is not included in Hawai’i鈥檚 statutory collective bargaining process with the HSTA.
鈥淥ur focus remains on supporting students, teachers, parents, principals and staff to move public education forward.鈥
Read our related coverage:
- Hawaii Teachers Accept Gov’s Offer For Mediation鈥
- Hearings Set For Teachers’ Complaint Against State
- Abercrombie ‘Happy to Entertain Counteroffers’ From Teachers Union
- Hawaii Teachers Union President Sends Personal Appeal To Abercrombie
- Hawaii: HSTA Has Pattern of Bad-Faith Bargaining
- Abercrombie Vs. Hawaii Teachers: What’s At Stake
- Hawaii Teachers Seek Relief From Forced Cuts
- HSTA President: We Just Want To Negotiate
- Details of Hawaii Teachers Contract Imposed By State
- Gov: Union Negotiators Agreed To HSTA Contract
- ‘Last, Best, Final’ Offer For Hawaii Teachers
