NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 4, 2003 Release No. 2003-07

Contact: Sen. Fred Hemmings Phone: [phone] (cell)

 

SENATOR HEMMINGS SAYS MONEY IS UNAVAILABLE TO PAY FOR GOVERNMENT WORKER PAY RAISES; SAYS MONEY COULD BE USED TO FUND PROGRAMS TO HELP UNDERSERVED

 

HONOLULU—Senator Fred Hemmings (R-25 Kailua-Waimanalo-Hawaii Kai) issued the following statement, in reaction to the vote on a number of collective bargaining bills up for third reading today in the state Senate.

"By passing these collective bargaining bills, we are issuing a blank check. It is time for the Legislature not to rubber stamp pay raises. In the wake of September 11^th and the slowdown of our economy, private sector workers, both union and non-union, have suffered layoffs and wage-cuts. We have even seen labor unions give back previously negotiated pay increases. Hawaii's government workers deserve a pay raise. The harsh reality is that we don't have money to pay for it. It is ironic that in difficult fiscal times that first cuts are made in programs that help the abused, the elderly, the sick and those least capable of caring for themselves.

For years now, in good times and bad, public workers have enjoyed pay raises, sometimes substantial ones. Their fringe benefits, holiday, and sick leave and some of the best in the nation. By voting against these funding measures, we are asking public workers to freeze their pay for two years to join the rest of the people of Hawaii in sharing with the people of Hawaii."

 

 

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