Thursday, November 21, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Unions reject furloughs: Governor seeks ag inspection alternatives
By Letters to the Editor @ 1:08 PM :: 7820 Views :: Agriculture, Labor

by Marc Miranda

The  Administration's preference has been furloughs rather than layoffs to make up the budget shortfall. If the furlough plan was implemented there would be less impact on such things as plant inspections by Ag Inspectors for instance.  We remain hopeful that we will be able to implement furloughs, but had no choice but to institute the layoff process given the resistance of  public union leaders in the collective bargaining process.

Layoffs had to focus on those Departments directly under the Governor's control that have positions funded by general funds.  This eliminated our ability to institute layoffs in the DOE, UH, Judiciary or legislative branches.  Also specially funded depts such as DHHL and DCCA are not subject to layoffs.  As a result more layoffs, if this is the option we are forced to use, will be concentrated in Department such as DBEDT and Department of Agriculture.

State Government  cannot afford to look or be the same.  We need to find new ways to do the tasks that were once performed.  We want to explore with the Agriculture industry options such as third-party certification, self certification, and random sampling. 

We are  and will continually be open to recommendations from the industry and concerned individuals.

Marc Miranda
Governor's Liaison East Hawaii - Hilo
Office of the Governor - State of Hawaii
75 Aupuni St.
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
808-974-6262 (Office), 808-974-6263 (Fax)
Email:
marc.miranda@hawaii.gov

RELATED:

Layoffs: Testimony AgitProp sought by Senators on Isle impacts

We think it is clearly worth the effort to go to the Big Island and hear from the people who will be directly impacted by the proposed reductions in services," Senate President Colleen Hanabusa said in a statement. "Agriculture is a primary industry on the Big Island. What effect will the staffing cuts have on the long-term viability of the industry and our exports? And for those who have concerns about the Kulani prisoners, how are their concerns being addressed? The answers are in the community."

read more

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

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 Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii