The Hawaii Government Employees Association’s Bargaining Unit 13 overwhelmingly ratified a four-year contract with the state, covering July 1 of this year through June 30, 2017. 

About 96 percent of Unit 13’s voting membership approved the contract. Unit 13 consists of about 8,100 professional and scientific employees. 

The terms of the agreement include the following:

• First year: Salary increases of 4 percent
• Second year: Placement of employees on their appropriate step and continuation of the step movement plan
• Third and fourth years: Salary increases of 3.5 percent
• 60 percent/40 percent employer/employee split on the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) health insurance premium

“After lengthy negotiations, HGEA has secured an equitable contract that is aligned with the goals set by our Unit 13 negotiating team to meet our members’ needs,” said HGEA Executive Director Randy Perreira. “As shown by the overwhelming vote to ratify the contract, our members are satisfied with the terms of the new agreement. We commend our negotiators for committing to fulfilling the goals they set that is fair to our members and recognizes their valuable work as public service employees.”

Read past Civil Beat coverage of union contract issues here. 

— Gene Park