Categorized | Education

State continues to seek ‘meaningful, fair’ HSTA agreement

MEDIA RELEASE

The State negotiations team has notified the Hawaii State Teachers Association it cannot responsibly accept its latest proposal, which would cost the State $1,050,445,815 over four years, mostly in additional compensation and benefit expenses.

On Dec. 5, 2012 the State offered HSTA $49.2 million in pay increases – 2 percent annual increases for the next two years – which was rejected by HSTA’s negotiating team.

The proposed increases are on top of the restoration of the temporary five percent reductions that end on June 30, 2013, and have a budgetary impact of $178.8 million over four years.

Days later, the HSTA team declined the State’s request to meet promptly to seek an agreement. Last week, when negotiations resumed, the HSTA presented its first proposal in almost a year.

The HSTA’s four-year proposal, which it made available publicly last week via social media, was much more costly than any prior HSTA proposal.

In its proposal, HSTA seeks to:

* Increase teachers’ base pay by 48.1 percent over the next four years

* Delay implementation of the new Educator Effectiveness System

* Gain veto power over development of each step of the system.

“We appreciate HSTA’s proposal but it is fiscally unrealistic. It’s obvious there is more work to do to reach a resolution,” Schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said. “Our focus remains on moving our strategic plan forward, providing the best learning environments for our teachers and students, and continuing on our path toward higher academic achievement. Recent gains are the direct result of our teachers’ dedication and commitment, and future success will require all stakeholders working together toward our common goals.”

The two sides resumed negotiations Jan. 22, 2013 in which the State negotiating team provided a detailed response to the HSTA. The State’s negotiating team consists of representatives of the Hawaii State Board of Education, Schools Superintendent and the State Office of Collective Bargaining.

“While we were pleased that HSTA finally presented a proposal, we were surprised and disappointed by its contents,” Board of Education member Jim Williams said.

“We depend on and value our teaching professionals. The HSTA’s proposal is not financially viable or prudent,” Williams said. “By their actions — delays providing a proposal, declining to make negotiations meetings a priority, making unrealistic financial demands and seeking to delay implementation of the new Educator Effectiveness System – HSTA leaders do not appear to be moving urgently toward reaching an agreement.”

The State and HSTA return to negotiations Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013.

OVERVIEW: COSTS OF HSTA’S LATEST PROPOSAL

Cost Items Proposed by HSTA (Jan. 11, 2013)

* Salary & Fringe Benefits

– 4% annual increase in each of the 4 years
– Multiple step increases based on individual teacher’s years of service
– Pay for 5 additional days for teacher planning and collaboration

* Employer contribution for Employee-Union Trust Fund (EUTF) for health benefits premiums:

– 80% single
– 60% family
– 100% administrative costs

* Other Medical Benefits (Stipends for teachers waiving EUTF benefits)

– Family = $300/month
– Single = $150/month

* Supplementary Pay Schedule: 12.5% increase

* Substitutes for 6 Days/Teacher for Non-classroom Activities

* Hard to Staff Incentive Payments Increase to $3,000 (from $1,500 currently)

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

 

Quantcast