Many of us wonder why furloughs were ordered. Many of us feel that other avenues should have been explored. In yesterday's Star-Bulletin, we start to see the rationale, or lack thereof. According to the Star-Bulletin,
In Star-Bulletin interviews with key players, differing versions emerge about who first raised the furlough idea. But it is clear that other options -- such as straight pay cuts or widespread across-the-board layoffs -- were rejected by both the unions and employers early in the negotiation process.
Wil Okabe, president of the HSTA, stated that the decision to furlough was simply based on dollars. It was the best method to save the State money. It is clear that the education of our children was not considered. The fact that the furloughs were set for instructional days versus non-instructional days validate this theory.
The article further states,
Asked why the union did not look to either taking the furloughs during other times, such as at the end of the school year, Okabe said it would have affected other unions such as the UPW and also might have cut teacher's service credits because they would not have worked enough in the spring quarter to earn service credits for retirement.
This makes no sense. With the current furlough schedule, UPW workers are now reporting to work at empty schools. How much sense does that make? Mr. Okabe was worried about service credits for the teachers' retirements but not about the number of school days that our children would lose. Come on, Mr. Okabe. Can't you come up with a better excuse? We are not stupid.
Unfortunately, our children will end up the losers in this battle. Hopefully, the lawsuit filed by Mr. Seitz will change things. I am hopeful that it will. But until then, we can only watch as this State continues its tailspin. I would have hoped that regardless of the economic crisis here in Hawaii, our children would have been protected. Well, they haven't. They continue to be used as pawns in the battle between the government and the labor unions. This is shameful. Our kids are our future. After all, isn't that what ALL the politicians profess when they are running for office?
This is so shameful! Everyone involved, HSTA, BOE, DOE, GOV are full of ####! I cannot control the voters but if any incumbent gets re-elected next year, we get what we deserve!
ReplyDeletePoliticians, are just that "POLITICIANS"...Very few if any, tell the truth when campaigning. ThEY SPEAK WITH FORKED TONGUE. ThEY SAY ANYTHING THEY FEEL THE PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR BUT WHEN THEY ARE ELECTED they forget their promises. If there is only someway we, the people could hold them accountable and not have to wait for next election time, I know we wouldn't have this terrible situations.How they can face the people knowing they have lied is beyond me. Where are the honest, caring people we have voted into office? We can't even count them on one hand now days.
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