Funding includes teacher salary increases, bonuses, supplemental pay bumps
Posted: April 28, 2023
During a joint House and Senate Conference Committee meeting Friday, state lawmakers approved $219 million in funding for the first two years of Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association’s 2023–2027 contract that takes effect July 1.
House Bill 1004, which funds the contract agreement, includes the next two years’ worth of costs, with $187 million covering salaries and fringe benefits as well as $32 million in health coverage contribution amounts for the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund, known as EUTF. The cost breakdowns are included in a governor’s message sent to lawmakers last week.
The four-year contract includes $577 million in funding for Bargaining Unit 05 employees of the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) and public charter schools, which includes salary increases ($532 million), lump sum payments ($37 million), and increases in supplemental pay ($8 million).
HSTA’s contract, which begins July 1, 2023, and ends June 30, 2027, was approved by 92% of voting members during a ratification vote Wednesday. The HSTA reached a tentative settlement late Friday, April 14, with the State of Hawaiʻi and the Board of Education.
HSTA President Osa Tui, Jr. said, “Now that our bargaining unit has overwhelmingly ratified the new four year contract starting July 1, our sincere mahalo goes out to the legislators who are moving forward with funding the contract via HB1004. Their support has always been appreciated including most recently when we needed them to fix salary compression and we appreciate their continued support to ensure the collective bargaining agreement is fully funded.”
HB1004 will next head to final votes in the state House and Senate. Then the bill will be sent to Gov. Josh Green’s desk to be signed into law. Pay increases and improved working conditions as outlined by the new contract take effect July 1.
“We hope more of Hawaiʻi’s young men and women will aspire to become teachers,” Green said after Wednesday’s landslide ratification. “Higher salaries and bonuses for veteran teachers will also improve teacher retention and reduce teacher shortages. Good public education remains one of our top priorities.”
The HSTA will begin work incorporating changes to the agreement for the 2023–2027 contract. Once it is finalized, it will be posted on HSTA’s website.
Hawaiʻi teachers thanked lawmakers and the governor for their new contract, which includes an average raise of 14.5% over four years, the creation of Class VIII, and bonuses for veteran educators.
“We want to thank the governor and everyone concerned – in the Legislature, and all our bargaining team, everybody that’s supporting us getting this great pay,” said Louise Cayetano, a STEM/robotics