Paycuts and a bigger share of health premium costs are among the changes taking place Friday for most public employees.
The governor released more details on Wednesday about what he says will happen Friday to the paychecks of non-union and union public workers alike, even with several union contracts yet to be resolved.
According to the governor, starting Friday, all of the following will pay 50 percent instead of 40 percent of the cost of health insurance, and will see salary changes.
* All but the nurses unit of HGEA get a 5 percent pay cut. That’s already been ratified.
* The HSTA gets a 5 percent wage reduction – 1.5 percent from a cut in pay, the remainder from furloughs on non-instructional days. This deal was rejected by the board of the union and not put to member vote. The state is implementing it unilaterally having declared an impasse. The union has not said if or when it will appeal to the labor board, which would be its recourse in this unprecedented case.
* Civil service employees not covered by by collective bargaining, including the governor’s staff, will see 5 percent less on their paychecks. That’s per an executive order.
*And a bill passed by the legislature and signed in May ensures anybody whose salary is set by the salary commission also gets a 5 percent paycut– that includes the governor, directors and deputies, and certain legislative and judicial workers.
The governor says he believes these targets are a reasonable basis that recognizes the value of public employee efforts while living within our means.
Still unresolved – UPW’s deal which is still under negotiation. The nurse contract appears headed for arbitration, after they rejected a contract by vote.
The governor said until those are worked out, the nurses and UPW get pay and benefits at the same levels received from June 30, 2009.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
