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A pilot program that would have considerably changed the work responsibilities of our members at Maui Community Mental Health Center’s Adult Mental Health Division was put on pause by the Hawaii Labor Relations Board pending consultation.
The decision is a major victory for the rights of members in Units 3, 9 and 13 at the facility who, in addition to role changes, would have been forced to work alongside outside contractors.
“HGEA had to fight for us because we had no voice in the clinic operation, in our teamwork, in anything that we did for the community and for our families we serve,” said Mary Akimo-Luuwai, Human Services Professional V, a Unit 13 member. “We were standing alone,” she said, drawing an analogy to how helpless Maui residents and the Native Hawaiian community felt during the Kahoolawe bombings.
HGEA filed a prohibitive practice complaint against the division over its plan to transition the Adult Mental Health Division into a pilot program called Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic stemming from a $4 million federal grant.
For our members, the facility’s new emphasis would mean their responsibilities would change, especially when it comes to the population of patients they treat. HGEA alleged that DOH failed to consult with the union before forging ahead on their changes.
Beginning in June, the HGEA Maui Island Division requested consultation with the Maui Adult Mental Health Division pointing out that the changes being imposed by the new model could be possible violations of the respective collective bargaining agreements and state law, particularly Chapter 89.
Rather than consult, officials from the center made unannounced visits to the HGEA Maui office and later claimed those visits constituted consultation. Information in a Department of Health PowerPoint also gave false impressions about the union’s position. Officials even claimed working conditions hadn’t changed yet admitted that consultation over the conversion of the clinic to a new model would be necessary at some point.
“If working conditions haven’t changed or wouldn’t change, why was DOH mandating behavioral health training modules geared toward the new model for mental health nurses?” said Maui Island Division Chief Toni Rust. “Nurses were also being told that they will eventually be drawing blood, something that they previously hadn’t done and hadn’t been part of AMHD’s services.”
In the end, the labor board found that officials failed to meaningfully consult with the union and they did so willfully. The labor board ruled that the division must cease and desist from further implementation of its pilot program until all consultation with HGEA is completed.
Patricia Codorniz, RN BSN Maui Adult Mental Health Medical Clinical Supervisor, said she is pleased with the outcome, but continues to question whether DOH will follow through.
“It was important for HGEA to be involved and to fight for members because of the unfavorable working conditions, the changes happening, the possible violations to our contract and impact to community,” said Codorniz, a Unit 9 member. “However, I question that DOH would even comply.”
Akimo-Luuwai hopes the decision “will help to bring all stakeholders to the table to facilitate conversations so that we can continue to serve the people in our community correctly.”
HGEA members who experienced the devastations of the Maui wildfires first-hand told their stories in our recent video series Voices from Maui.
Marianne Wheeler, principal of Kula Elementary School and a Unit 6 member, recounted the chaos that erupted in her small upcountry community when fires contaminated the water supply and affected the operation of her school.
Jeri Dean, vice principal at King Kekaulike High School and a Unit 6 member, was traveling in Seattle when the fires began and lost her home.
Ian Barnes, ocean safety officer with Maui County and a Unit 15 member, evacuated to Napili with his two children during the blaze and lost his home.
“Many of our members have lost their homes, cars and their way of life,” said Randy Perreira, executive director of HGEA. “Our members are the lifeblood of our union, and we want them to know we stand with them as they recover from this tragedy.”
Following the devastating wildfires that ravaged Lahaina and Kula, the board of directors for the Hawaii Government Employees Association approved the use of $100,000 in relief funds to go to members who were directly impacted.
Affected members last week began receiving the funds, which amount to $500 for active and retired members and $250 for associate members. The relief program is in addition to support from our affiliate unions. Both the Hawaii State AFL-CIO’s Employees Lifeline Program and AFSCME’s Fallen Heroes Fund have distributed $250 gift cards to affected union members.
“Many of our members have lost their homes, cars and their way of life,” said Randy Perreira, executive director of HGEA. “Our members are the lifeblood of our union, and we want them to know we stand with them as they recover from this tragedy.”
Ginet Hayes, HGEA board president, thanked her fellow board members for their leadership in approving money to be used for wildfire relief.
“We hope these funds provide a little relief during such a difficult time,” Hayes said.
Jeri Dean, vice principal at King Kekaulike High School and a Unit 6 member, was traveling in Seattle, taking one of her kids to college, when news came that her beloved town of Lahaina was ablaze.
“I soon realized the magnitude of the devastation,” said Dean, who lost her home. “My children – thank God – were safe. And fortunately, we were able to tap into home insurance and get access to rental money. But so many are still trying to find housing.”
Dean said HGEA’s Maui staff reached out immediately, which she valued. “I want to say I appreciate HGEA for seeing us as individuals who need a certain kind of support right now.”
Impacted Maui members are also invited to “shop” the Maui Island Division office’s store of household goods and supplies, much of which came from donations by AFL-CIO in Los Angeles. If you were impacted and have not filed your request, check your inbox for an email from Toni Rust, Maui island division chief.
You can help union members on Maui with much-needed assistance. Here’s how:
Donate to the Hawaii State AFL-CIO’s Hawaii Employees Lifeline Program. This fund supports union ohana on Maui with critical emergency assistance. You can make checks payable to the “Hawaii Employees Lifeline Program,” and send to:
Hawaii State AFL-CIO, Attn: Cathy Lederer
888 Mililani Street, Suite 501
Honolulu, HI 96813
Support AFSCME’s Fallen Heroes Fund. The International Union created the Fallen Heroes Fund to help AFSCME ohana who have suffered losses due to natural disasters. Every donation made will support union members affected by the wildfires. Donate today.
The Hawaii State Judiciary presented individual and group awards to employees who have distinguished themselves through exceptional service and accomplishments. The recipients of this year’s awards are:
Meritorious Service Award
Group Meritorious Service Award
Spirit of the Judiciary Award
Certificate of Commendation
Group Certificate of Commendation
Award for Suggestions
Congratulations to all the recipients for your hard work and dedication to public service. Hawaii works because we do.
Following our urgent calls on the state to resolve pay equity for school employees, the Hawaii Government Employees Association is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that addresses pay parity for those who help educate and care for Hawaii’s students.
HGEA would like to thank Gov. Josh Green and Superintendent Keith Hayashi for their willingness to work with us to resolve pay equity among state workers, especially in the state Department of Education.
“This tentative agreement, pending ratification of our membership, signals to public workers across the state that this administration, unlike its predecessors, desires increased collaboration with public sector unions to make state government work better for the people of Hawaii,” said Randy Perreira, HGEA executive director.
The issue of pay inequality for school-level personnel intensified with recent pay increases for teachers. HGEA demanded that the governor and superintendent turn their attention to the rest of the team that educates and cares for our children.
Educational assistants and teaching assistants in our public schools play a critical role in student learning, working side-by-side with classroom teachers, especially with the most vulnerable students. Historically, fewer jobs in the DOE paid lower than EAs, despite the vital nature of their roles.
“While education officials have acknowledged outrageously low pay and a lack of career ladder for educational assistants since at least 2008, officials consistently failed to address the problem, creating a recruitment and retention crisis that has only deepened over the years,” Perreira said.
For vice principals, state officials acknowledged that pay bumps for teachers created a situation where some teachers were making more than their supervisors. If the DOE is going to continue to recruit and retain high quality educators to become principals or vice principals, the pay should be competitive enough to entice teachers to leave the classroom to lead their schools.
The DOE is facing historic staff shortages in critical positions, with nearly 600 educational assistant vacancies and some 160 vice principal positions unfilled. This agreement, which is just a first step to addressing pay disparity, is a move in the right direction toward addressing the recruitment and retention crisis throughout the public schools.
“Today’s deal represents years of promises that are finally coming to fruition for these dedicated educators. Our work is not yet done, however. The rest of the administrative and support staff in our schools deserve pay parity with their education counterparts, as well, and the Green Administration has signaled a willingness to work with us on this,” Perreira said.
Hawaii’s students receive quality education in a safe and nurturing environment because a multitude of school-level professionals are on the job. The DOE works because WE do.
-pau-
Media Contacts:
Malulani Moreno
Communications Manager
(808) 543-0024
mmoreno@hgea.org
Kristina Lum
Senior Communications Specialist
(808) 543-0063
klum@hgea.org
