The Right Price

Our Continuing Public Union Fiasco

Larry Price — 2009-11-11T10:00:39+00:00

Hawaii’s public union situation is getting comical. The latest intrusions into the state’s collective bargaining mess border on insanity.

Solving A Negotiation Free-for-all

Larry Price — 2009-11-04T10:00:23+00:00

It wasn’t long ago that President Obama reduced 2010 federal pay increases to 2 percent. Federal workers were expecting a 2.4 percent raise, but Obama’s reasoning was that the national unemployment rate and the size of the federal payroll demanded his actions.

No Accountability For School Crisis

Larry Price — 2009-10-28T10:00:12+00:00

Trying to keep up with the negotiations of our public unions is a full-time job. The reason is no one in the system is truly accountable to anyone else. Or at least that’s how it seems.

Parents Getting Involved At UH

Larry Price — 2009-10-21T10:00:23+00:00

MidWeek columnist Yu Shing Ting wrote an insightful story (MidWeek, 8/31/05) about one of the most stressful factors facing incoming students on a university campus. She writes, “College life is often seen as a time of freedom, independence and, of course, no parents!”

Union Negotiations And Yellow Journalism

Larry Price — 2009-10-14T10:00:56+00:00

Few labor negotiations have been subjected to so much political and mass media scrutiny with so little impact, but union members have stayed united and the system appears to work, even though it’s evident that Hawaii’s collective-bargaining laws need to be revitalized.

Praising Public Parks

Larry Price — 2009-10-07T10:00:10+00:00

It’s a little amazing that, with all the money and media attention being showered on dysfunctional communities and urban decay, someone in Hawaii’s government doesn’t step up and point out the importance of public parks during these tough economic times and their ability to be major contributors to the physical and aesthetic quality of our urban communities.

A Job Well Done By HSTA Negotiators

Larry Price — 2009-09-30T10:00:29+00:00

Just about everyone on both negotiation teams was probably surprised by Hawaii public school teachers’ overwhelming ratification of a new two-year contract that will close public schools for 17 Fridays starting October 23.

Where’s Urgency In Union Talks?

Larry Price — 2009-09-23T10:00:47+00:00

There was an air of depression in the sky last week, with no sign of clearing up. It began when furlough days for 900 non-union state employees went into effect.

Labor Day And Workers’ Unions

Larry Price — 2009-09-16T10:00:10+00:00

For those who study labor relations, Labor Day is a special day for a couple of reasons. Samuel Gompers, founder and long-time president of American Federation of Labor, said it best: “Labor Day is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race or nation. It is a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the country.”

Arbitration: A Game Like No Other

Larry Price — 2009-09-09T10:00:33+00:00

There were so many exciting things going on here last week. The UH Rainbow Warriors opened their football season at Aloha Stadium, the UH’s Wahine volleyball team hosted its mega-tournament at Stan Sheriff Center and the OIA featured some of its best teams in action on the Waianae coast.