Report Title:

Collective Bargaining

Description:

Amends resolution of disputes and impasse provisions.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2277

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to collective bargaining.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 89-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

1. By amending subsections (c) and (d) to read:

"(c) An impasse over the terms of an initial or renewed agreement and the date of impasse shall be as follows:

(1) More than ninety days after written notice by either party to initiate negotiations, either party may give written notice to the board that an impasse exists. The date on which the board receives notice shall be the date of impasse; and

(2) If neither party gives written notice of an impasse and there are unresolved issues on April 15 of [an even-numbered year,] a year in which the agreement is due to expire, the board shall declare on April 15 that an impasse exists and April 16 shall be the date of impasse.

(d) If an impasse exists between a public employer and the exclusive bargaining representative of bargaining unit (1), nonsupervisory employees in blue collar positions; bargaining unit (2), supervisory employees in blue collar positions; bargaining unit (3), nonsupervisory employees in white collar positions; bargaining unit (4), supervisory employees in white collar positions; bargaining unit (5), teachers and other personnel of the department of education; bargaining unit (6), educational officers and other personnel of the department of education under the same salary schedule; bargaining unit (7), faculty of the University of Hawaii and the community college system; bargaining unit (8), personnel of the University of Hawaii and the community college system, other than faculty; bargaining unit (9), registered professional nurses; [or] bargaining unit (13), professional and scientific employees[,]; or bargaining unit (14), part-time faculty of the University of Hawaii or graduate students with compensated teaching or research duties, the board shall assist in the resolution of the impasse as follows:

(1) Voluntary mediation. During the first twenty days of the date of impasse, either party may request the board to assist in a voluntary resolution of the impasse by appointing a mediator or mediators, representative of the public from a list of qualified persons maintained by the board[.];

(2) Fact-finding. If the impasse continues twenty days after the date of impasse, the board shall immediately appoint a fact-finding panel of not more than three members, representative of the public from a list of qualified persons maintained by the board. The fact-finding panel shall, in addition to powers delegated to it by the board, determine which items are in dispute, which of those items are most central to the impasse, and make recommendations for the resolution of the impasse [pursuant to subsection (f)] on such items in the dispute as it considers useful. The fact-finding panel, acting by a majority of its members, shall transmit a report on its findings of fact and recommendations for the resolution of the impasse to both parties within sixty days after its appointment and notify the board of the date when it transmitted the fact-finding report[.];

(3) Mediation. If the impasse continues ten days after the transmittal of the fact-finding report, the board shall appoint a mediator or mediators representative of the public from a list of qualified persons maintained by the board, to assist the parties in a voluntary resolution of the impasse. The parties shall make the fact-finding report available to the mediator or mediators. The board shall have the discretion to compel the parties to attend mediation, reasonable in time and frequency, until the fact-finding report is made public. Thereafter, mediation shall be elective with the parties, subject to the approval of the board;

(4) Fact-finding report made public. If the impasse continues sixty days after the transmittal of the fact-finding report, the parties shall make available to the board the fact-finding report, which shall be released by the board for public information[.]; and

(5) Submission of fact-finding report and response of the parties. If the impasse continues and the parties have not mutually agreed to submit the dispute to arbitration for a decision by January 31 of [an odd-numbered year,] a year in which their agreement expires, the employers shall submit on February 1 to the appropriate legislative bodies the employers' recommendations for the settlement of the impasse on all cost items together with the fact-finding report. The exclusive representative may submit to the appropriate legislative bodies its recommendations for the settlement of the cost items in impasse. If, on February 1, mediation has concluded and the fact-finding report has not already been made available to the board pursuant to paragraph (4), the employer shall make available to the appropriate legislative bodies and to the board, a copy of the fact-finding report for public information. If, on February 1, mediation has not concluded, then promptly after it has concluded, the employer shall make available to the appropriate legislative bodies and to the board a copy of the fact-finding report for public information."

(2) By amending subsection (f) to read:

"(f) [A fact-finding panel in making its report and an arbitrator or] An arbitration panel in reaching its decision shall give weight to the following factors and shall include in its written report or decision an explanation of how the factors were taken into account:

(1) The lawful authority of the employer, including the ability of the employer to use special funds only for authorized purposes or under specific circumstances because of limitations imposed by federal or state laws or county ordinances, as the case may be[.];

(2) Stipulations of the parties[.];

(3) The interests and welfare of the public[.];

(4) The financial ability of the employer to meet these costs; provided that the employer's ability to fund cost items shall not be predicated on the premise that the employer may increase or impose new taxes, fees, or charges, or develop other sources of revenues[.];

(5) The present and future general economic condition of the counties and the State[.];

(6) Comparison of wages, hours, and conditions of employment of the employees involved in the arbitration proceeding with the wages, hours, and conditions of employment of other persons performing similar services, and of other state and county employees in Hawaii[.];

(7) The average consumer prices for goods or services, commonly known as the cost of living[.];

(8) The overall compensation presently received by the employees, including direct wage compensation, vacation, holidays and excused time, insurance and pensions, medical and hospitalization benefits, the continuity and stability of employment, and all other benefits received[.];

(9) Changes in any of the foregoing circumstances during the pendency of the arbitration proceedings[.]; and

(10) Such other factors, not confined to the foregoing, which are normally or traditionally taken into consideration in the determination of wages, hours, and conditions of employment through voluntary collective bargaining, mediation, fact-finding, arbitration, or otherwise between the parties, in the public service or in private employment."

SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2002.

INTRODUCED BY:

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