Under a cloud of budget uncertainty, HSTA achieves legislative wins

2025-05-08T14:17:19-10:00May 8, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Despite financial uncertainty at the federal level, the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association is happy to report that, through persistent effort and your collective voice, we have achieved some very important wins for our members, students, and the future of public education in our state.

HSTA president tells convention delegates why the union rejected a contract extension

2025-04-15T18:46:55-10:00April 15, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association President Osa Tui, Jr. revealed to delegates at the union’s 2025 State Convention that the state had offered educators a two-year extension on its existing contract with annual 4% increases without the possibility of negotiating any other terms or working conditions. After careful consideration, HSTA leadership rejected the offer, he said. 

Federal uncertainty stymies many legislative priorities

2025-03-07T12:04:54-10:00March 7, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

At the midpoint of the 2025 legislative session, HSTA’s lobby team has testified on over 50 bills, advocating for teacher pay, housing, and student needs amid cautious state budgeting due to federal uncertainties. While some key priorities like hazard pay and paid family leave stalled, progress continues on teacher housing, school funding, and civic education, with ongoing efforts to support educators and students across Hawaiʻi.

HSTA requests pandemic hazard pay for teachers

2025-01-24T14:53:47-10:00January 23, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association is asking state lawmakers for a one-time hazard pay bonus for the thousands of public and charter school teachers who worked directly with students during the pandemic.

Teacher hazard pay, free student school meals among top priorities

2025-01-27T14:36:59-10:00January 16, 2025|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

COVID-19 hazard pay for educators, automatic step increases, free school meals for students and paid family leave for state and county employees are among the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association’s key priorities for this year’s state legislative session that began Wednesday. 

Teachers not eligible for COVID-19 hazard pay

2024-01-25T22:31:40-10:00January 25, 2024|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: , , , , , , , |

While an arbitrator has ruled that as many as 7,800 public school employees, such as school nurses and educational assistants, are eligible for hazard pay for working during the pandemic, public school teachers do not have a hazard pay clause in their contract.

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