STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1599-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.C.R. No. 230

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 230 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 – SEPTEMBER 7, 2008 AS HAWAII LABOR HISTORY WEEK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to honor and remember the many contributions the labor movement made to the way of life we all enjoy, especially in Hawaii, by recognizing the week of September 1, 2008, to September 7, 2008, as "Hawaii Labor History Week."

     The Hawaii Government Employees Association, ILWU Local 142, Laborers' Union Local 368, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Building and Trades Council, AFL-CIO, and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Education (DOE) supported the measure with an amendment.

     Labor has played a large role in shaping the way people live throughout the United States.  This is especially true in Hawaii, where labor worked to develop Hawaii both as a territory and a state.  Labor also served as the beginnings of Hawaii's multicultural society, as many laborers came to our shores from different nations, learning to work, play, and live together.  Unfortunately, many of the contributions labor has made to our current way of life are taken for granted and oftentimes go unrecognized or are forgotten as the older generations pass on.  Recognizing one week in September as "Hawaii Labor History Week" will allow younger generations to be taught about the contributions of labor to Hawaii and will allow for these accomplishments to live forever in people's memories.

     Your Committee finds that this measure, as written, specifies that the week of recognition would only apply to 2008.  Moreover, your Committee has been notified that DOE does have some history of labor as part of its curriculum.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing references to the year 2008 in its title and provisions when noting the week recognized as "Hawaii Labor History Week"; and

     (2)  Clarifying that labor history is taught in social studies curricula used by some teachers at DOE.

Other technical, nonsubstantive amendments were made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 230, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 230, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair