FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 28, 2001

Contact: Rep. Mark Moses Tel.: [phone]

GOP Wants Civil Service Reform Bill Moved

Republicans say collective bargaining autonomy

will provide flexibility, better negotiations

The House Republicans are seeking recall of a bill allowing the University of Hawaii, state-financed community hospitals, and the individual counties to negotiate collective bargaining contracts independent of the state.

Unless Democrats act first, Republicans plan to pull the key civil service reform bill (HB 263) onto the House floor on Thursday, March 29. According to Rep. Mark Moses (R-Kapolei), the bill will provide "flexibility for each group to negotiate contracts independently, meeting their individual needs." Moses added, "With flexibility, each entity can effectively manage their own area without being tied to agreements they did not negotiate. Currently contract negotiations are done statewide with each county having one vote and the state having four votes. It takes five votes to agree to a contract--meaning the state controls most bargaining."

"Republicans want each government unit to have authority to manage their own employees and not be forced to accept an agreement they are unwilling or unable to comply with. We are sure our Democrat colleagues wish to share in these efforts for greater flexibility," Moses said.

"The governor and the mayors of each county stand behind this concept," Moses noted, adding, "the University of Hawaii and community hospitals also want to manage their own operations."

Rep. Jim Rath, (R-North Kona), said, "Negotiating contracts that reflect each groups ability to pay, including concessions, makes sense. The individual counties can work directly with each bargaining unit and remove the state from dictating what they should pay or have the state force them to adhere to a contract agreement they did not negotiate. The UH and the community hospitals must stand on their own merits and this bill would be the first step to independence."

House passage of HB 263 will put the bill on the Senate's agenda for the next session in 2002.

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