DOE goes to court to appeal recent labor board compression repricing ruling

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) has appealed a recent decision by the Hawaiʻi Labor Relations Board (HLRB) in favor of three teachers who brought a case related to the Fall 2022 repricing of Bargaining Unit 05 (BU 05) employees carried out by the department.

The HLRB handles cases under the Collective Bargaining in Public Employment Act, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS), Chapter 89, or often simply referred to as “Chapter 89.”

Last month, we reported to members that the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association had officially requested the HIDOE’s plan to address hundreds of others who are similarly being affected by the ongoing violation of HRS § 89-9(f)(2), as found by the HLRB. So far, the HIDOE has not responded to HSTA.

HSTA is reviewing the HIDOE’s appeal to determine if it can and should intervene in the HIDOE’s appeal to support the HLRB’s decision to the extent that it can under the law and based on the facts and the circumstances surrounding the case and the employer’s repricing plan.

Such an intervention could allow HSTA to continue to advocate on behalf of similarly situated teachers who were employed at the time of the repricing adjustments in the fall of 2022 and did not receive adjustments for their prior teaching experience

If you are a teacher affected by this case, there is nothing for you to do at this time. HSTA will continue to update members as this situation develops.