In a letter dated Monday, Jan. 23 to members of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, president Wil Okabe said it was his fault teacher rejected the latest contract offer.

Approximately 9,000 of the 12,500 teachers, counselors, and others voted Thursday on whether to accept the proposed contract. Those in favor accounted for 33 percent votes; 67 percent voted against it.

Okabe’s letter in full:

Aloha Colleague,

Last week, you rejected the contract I recommended.

In hindsight I can see that I was too anxious to finalize what I thought was a good settlement. I didn’t give you the time to offer your ideas and ask your questions.

I am humbled.

This wasn’t the teachers’ fault. It was mine.

The governor has asked us to send him a new proposal. That’s a change on his part. But I need your help to develop that proposal. I hope you will take a few minutes to respond to our feedback form and return it to your Faculty Representative by Feb. 1, 2012. For your convenience, you may also share your thoughts online via SurveyMonkey.

In addition to the feedback form, in the next two weeks there will be complex meetings held to allow further opportunities for you to share your thoughts on the recent ratification vote. Please watch for information from your faculty representatives and chapter leaders on the dates and times of these meetings.

Mahalo,

Wil Okabe
HSTA President

— Find out more:
www.hsta.org
Feedback form: www.surveymonkey.com/s/HSTAfeedback