Thursday, March 28, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
HSTA, Abercrombie Agree to Federal Mediation
By News Release @ 3:39 PM :: 5286 Views :: Energy, Environment

Joint Statement by HSTA and State on Federal Mediation

News Release from www.Hawaii.gov/gov August 20, 2012

HONOLULU – On August 14, 2012, Governor Neil Abercrombie sent a letter to the Hawai'i State Teachers Association (HSTA) President Mr. Wil Okabe inviting the teachers’ union to engage the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services. Governor Abercrombie said that the invitation “is not about establishing who is right or who is wrong, but rather to re-engage HSTA in discussions which can lead to a resolution of the issues that separate us.”

This evening the HSTA Board of Directors voted to agree to pursue seeking the help of the Federal Mediator. The Federal Mediator provides mediation and conciliation services.

Governor Abercrombie stated:

“I am very pleased that the HSTA leadership has agreed to use the services of the Federal Mediator. This is a step forward, by both sides, to find a solution that will resolve our differences for the sake of our students and school teachers.”

Mr. Okabe stated:

"We would like to announce that our Negotiations Committee and the HSTA Board of Directors have agreed to the Governor's recommendation to enter into federal mediation in an attempt to resolve the current contract dispute. We look forward to beginning the mediation process as soon as possible."

###

Announcement posted on HSTA Facebook Page

Dear HSTA Leaders and Members, August 20. 2012
At the Board of Directors meeting held this evening, the HSTA Board authorized President Wil Okabe to accept Governor Abercrombie's August 14 offer of mediation. HSTA looks forward to using federal mediation to assist the parties in reaching a collective bargaining agreement for Hawaii's public school teachers.

Selected Comments from HSTA Facebook Page:

  • Matthew Calica Are we supposed to be happy about this? How many years have we been waiting and only now? Pathetic, let me know when you get us a contract that doesn't force us to take on second jobs.
  • Michele Sasaki Thanks to the Board & Negotiations Committee for all their hard work. We are all a little cynical about offers from Abby, especially since we got stabbed in the back, but ever hopeful, we'll try this avenue. I cross my fingers & hope that the State & DOE will do right by us. In the meantime, we have power through our actions & our votes. Stand up & speak out for those candidates that care about education & teachers. Get out on Election Day & cast your vote. Realize that you are HSTA, I am HSTA, & WE ARE HSTA.
  • Sarah Kamala I have taught on Maui for 11 years and I recently moved to another state to teach somewhere else. This is such nonsense I couldn't take it anymore. For those that cannot leave Hawaii I hope this can be resolved sooner than later. I was so disappointed to move......now I have a living wage cheaper groceries and am buying a house, but I miss my friends, family the children and life in Hawaii.....
  • Melinda Ahn Yes HSTA did ask for arbitration and Ambercrummy rejected it! What a snake he is! I get angry every time I see his face! It hurts my heart to know that we will never be given the recognition we deserve! I always go back to my students and their families and they do recognize! We deserve to be able to live with some comfort! Yet we stay, accept more and more work, face it we're suckers, because we love what we are supposed to do, teach students!

KHON: HSTA President announces decision to use federal mediator

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT