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A Victory for School Employee Safety: Natalie’s Bill Is Now Law
For years, the Hawaii Government Employees Association has advocated for stronger protections against assault and harassment for Hawaii’s educators. Educational employees across the state can finally breathe a sigh of relief, with the signing of HB 1888 into law this week. Named after Natalie Iwamoto, associate athletic director at Moanalua High School, the law ensures that violence against school employees will no longer be tolerated. Iwamoto, a Unit…
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A Clear Choice for Working People: Ed Case’s Pro-Labor Record vs. Jarrett Keohokalole’s No Vote On Your Raises
As organized labor faces an unprecedented assault from a hostile federal administration, U.S. Rep. Ed Case has stood against rollbacks of worker rights and undermining the middle class. Over the last two years, as anti-union extremists in Washington, D.C., have taken a sledgehammer to decades of progress for the labor movement, Case worked to thwart their agenda at…
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Washington Middle School Principal of 25 Years Suspended With No Due Process
Unit 6 members Mike Harano, principal at Washington Middle School, and Sam Fong, recording studio director, were pushed out of their jobs by their complex area superintendent with no explanation, deprived of their due process rights, HGEA alleges. A principal at WMS for 25 years, Harano’s suspension came two weeks before the end of the school year, with…
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Della Au Belatti for Lieutenant Governor
Della Au Belatti has long been a friend to labor and HGEA. She was first elected to the state House in 2006. During her legislative tenure, she chaired the House Health Committee and House Committee on Public Safety, and served as House Majority Leader during a very challenging time, navigating us through the pandemic. Through…
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In the News: HGEA’s Randy Perreira Sounds the Alarm on Overcrowding at the Hawaii State Hospital
HGEA’s Executive Director Randy Perreira spoke out on Hawaii News Now after new concerns were raised over capacity and staffing issues at the Hawaii State Hospital. “The census is extraordinarily high. Tensions are high, and we are getting an increased number of calls from employees,” Perreira said. “They’re reporting incidents of assault, incidents of challenges…
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Legislative Session Recap With Randy
The 2026 Legislative Session wrapped up earlier this month, and HGEA scored a few significant wins for members. These include a bill to increase the maximum contribution and carryover amounts for public service flexible spending accounts, and a bill that would address the rising problem of educational employees facing harassment. The Legislature also confirmed a…
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Working for Maui With Mayor Richard Bissen
HGEA and Mayor Bissen have had a positive collaborative relationship since he took office in 2022. His administration has shown a willingness to resolve grievances quickly, reprice engineers, and even ease the cost of health insurance with a new free 75/25 medical plan. To break down all the ways the Bissen administration has been working…
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Spotlight at the Legislature With Unit 6 Principals
The 2026 Legislative Session started on a highly controversial note when the Senate Education Committee took up a bill that would have changed the way principals are selected and evaluated along with eliminating complex area superintendents. Unit 6 members’ engagement and advocacy thankfully killed the bad parts of that bill. But there are so many…
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Send Lawmakers Your Opposition to the DOE Restructuring Bill
On Wednesday, Feb. 25 the Senate Ways and Means Committee is set to hear Sen. Donna Mercado Kim’s bill (SB 3334) that attacks the way principals are selected and evaluated, as well as restructures the school system. We need you to tell lawmakers, “Hands off DOE.” Wednesday, Feb. 25, 10:55 AMConference Room 211 & VideoconferenceHawaii…
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Sen. Donna Mercado Kim Lashes Out at Educational Officers — HGEA Fires Back
Sen. Donna Mercado Kim took to the floor of the state Senate this week to insult principals and educational officers in our public schools, calling them rude and disrespectful simply for showing up to her committee hearing on Friday and sharing their opinions. We’re not letting her get away with it. On Wednesday, Executive Director Randy Perreira addressed a letter to Sen. Kim,…
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