Hawaii House Bill HB2756

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/24/24
• Refer: 1/26/24

Caption

Relating To Collective Bargaining.

Impact

The passage of HB 2756 is designed to strengthen the collective bargaining framework for emergency services personnel, acknowledging the specialized nature of their work. Employees transitioned to the new bargaining unit will be guaranteed that there will not be any interruptions in their service or losses in their established rights as existing agreements will remain in effect until new agreements are made. This highlights the importance of safeguarding employee benefits, especially for those in essential roles within emergency management.

Summary

House Bill 2756 aims to amend collective bargaining laws in Hawaii by creating a new bargaining unit specifically for employees of the city and county of Honolulu's emergency services department. This act seeks to transition these employees from their current classification into a newly established unit (16) while maintaining their existing rights, benefits, and privileges under current labor agreements until a new collective bargaining agreement is ratified. The bill outlines the establishment of collective bargaining units that categorize various employment groups under the state's labor laws, which have significant implications for the negotiation processes between public employers and their employees.

Contention

While the bill primarily seeks to provide clearer representation for emergency services workers, discussions around it may arise concerning the implications of reclassifying workers into new units. Some stakeholders might express concerns about the potential for increased complexity in negotiations or the risk that new bargaining frameworks could affect the dynamic between established unions and public employers, particularly regarding the distribution of voting power in collective bargaining agreements. The overall response to the bill will likely vary, reflecting differing opinions on labor management and the role of collective agreements in supporting public-facing service roles.