STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1257

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.R. No. 85

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Labor & Public Employment and Higher Education, to which was referred H.R. No. 85 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF ALLOWING GRADUATE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO UNIONIZE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support graduate students at the University of Hawaii by requesting the Auditor to, among other things:

(1)  Conduct a study on the potential effects of allowing graduate students of the University of Hawaii to unionize, which includes consideration of:

(A)  Graduate student working conditions;

(B)  Pay in relation to relevant cost of living and in comparison to graduate students at institutions where graduate students are unionized;

(C)  Differences in workload based upon academic department; and

(D)  Potential costs to the University as an employer; and

(2)  Establish an Advisory Council, which includes graduate student representation, to assist in the development and execution of the study.

The Graduate Student Organization; United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO; and a number of concerned individuals supported this measure.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor & Public Employment and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 85 and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor & Public Employment and Higher Education,

____________________________ ISAAC W. CHOY, Chair

____________________________ MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair