Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor and Public Employment, to which was referred S.B. No. 850 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal mandatory arbitration for Collective Bargaining Units 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 13, and restore the right to strike to these units.

The United Public Workers supported the intent of the measure, provided that the essential worker statute is repealed.

HGEA testified in opposition to the measure.

Your Committee finds that until 1995, all public employees, with the exception of firefighters and police officers, had the right to strike. Acts 202 and 208, Session Laws of Hawaii 1995, rescinded that right from Collective Bargaining Units 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 13, and replaced it with mandatory arbitration as the method by which labor disputes were to be resolved.

Your Committee believes that the concept of re-empowering these public employees with the right to strike is necessary to protect the rights of these employees. The right to strike would be more effective in protecting the rights of public employees than the current mandatory arbitration method.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 850 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.