06-05-2009, 02:47 PM
quote:There is no single contract for GM, there are about 8 different contracts. All are very large and covers thousands of items, so you'll have to be a bit more specific. However, GM's contract is not relevant to Hawaii.
Originally posted by David M
Perhaps not THE cause, but a major role player.
I'd be curious to see a listing of contract terms, especially regarding pay and benefits, since unionization of the auto industry.
Any of our proficient researchers want to provide?
What is relevant to Hawaii and it's citizens is that the State’s CBA's with the local unions are not the same as a CBA with a private entities. The CBA's have a provision that in an emergency (fiscal or otherwise) the State has the authority to modify the terms of the contract during that emergency. But it requires that certain things happen in certain order. So long as government is doing what the contract says it would do in an emergency, the unions don't have a leg to stand on. But if (like they did with the SuperFerry) the state and elected officials just start making things up, the Union is required to challenge what they are doing.
But remember, this is a legal contract that the State of Hawaii signed with the union. They knew what was in it and they agreed to legally abide by the terms of the contract. Complicating this is that the Legislature seems to be in disagreement with the Governors way of dealing with the issue. They feel that she's violating the legal requirements of the contract in some areas and they feel that she's not availing herself to the negotiation process.