LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i teachers took to the streets Thursday afternoon, joining a statewide sign waving campaign. More than 50 of Kaua‘i’s teachers, members of the HSTA, Kaua‘i Chapter, lined Kapule Highway fronting the North Vidinha soccer fields and the entrance
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i teachers took to the streets Thursday afternoon, joining a statewide sign waving campaign.
More than 50 of Kaua‘i’s teachers, members of the HSTA, Kaua‘i Chapter, lined Kapule Highway fronting the North Vidinha soccer fields and the entrance to the Kaua‘i Lagoons.
“We had about 50 teachers signed up for Lihu‘e, and at least 20 North Shore teachers signed up to sign wave in Kilauea,” said Tom Perry, director of Kaua‘i HSTA. “The teachers are still coming in, so I think we’ll have more than 50 teachers.”
The sign waving efforts are to illustrate to the State of Hawai‘i that, during this legislative session, teachers are making education in Hawai‘i the priority, states a Hawai‘i State Teachers Association newsletter.
In addition to the red HSTA T-shirts and campaign posters, Perry said teachers could also get the red “Kuleana” wristbands, which he said is a symbol of solidarity.
“But the wristbands is not just for teachers,” he said. “Anyone who wants to wear them can — teachers, parents and even the kids,” he said. “People who wear the wristbands acknowledge and embrace the premise that education of our keiki is everyone’s responsibility.”
The sign waving also sends a message of support to the HSTA bargaining team.
“We are gaining support as we negotiate toward a fair contract,” said Jodi Maeda, the HSTA, Kaua‘i Chapter president. “The good thing about this event is there are similar events being held on every island in at least one location during this time. We are not alone.”
HSTA is asking for 4 percent raises for the next three years, plus a restoration of the 5 percent pay cut they involuntarily took in 2011, Honolulu Civil Beat reports.
In December, the state offered the union 2 percent raises and restoring the cuts.
The HSTA presented the state with its proposal on Jan. 17.
“We will be at bargaining impasse starting Feb. 1, so we believe these negotiations will be long and difficult,” said HSTA President Wil Okabe in a statement on the state’s release of negotiations to the media following a Jan. 22 meeting. “HSTA’s negotiations team is analyzing the numbers the state has publicized to see whether their calculations are inflated or fair.”
In the statement, Okabe said the state is including the cost to repay the 5 percent teachers have sacrificed, and that is not a raise.
“We also discovered the state is including the cost of substitute teachers for certain teacher planning days, even though HSTA does not represent substitute teachers,” Okabe said.
The HSTA president said when the state required sacrifices over the past four years, teachers gave up more than their fair share to the tune of approximately $180 million in pay and benefits while police, fire, nurses, University of Hawai‘i professors and adult corrections officers had no cuts.
“This contract is about fulfilling a promise to restore pay cuts, but also valuing and investing in teachers as being essential to the future of our students,” he said.
The HSTA proposal enhances the ability of the state and teachers to achieve success for its students, and includes:
• A teacher evaluation system can be achieved through true collaboration and partnership with teachers;
• Department of Education assurances with supports for teachers and students in place;
• A compensation package which competitively attracts and retains Hawai‘i teachers.
“What the state characterizes as ‘veto power,’ HSTA characterizes as partnership,” Okabe said. “True partnership means both sides give a little, and gain together. We only ask the same respect and cooperation that was given to the principals, who took nine years to agree to their evaluation system.”
Visit www.contractforthefuture.org or www.hsta.org for more information.
