STATE DISAPPOINTED IN HGEA FOR TELLING MEMBERS NOT TO COMPLETE REDUCTION-IN-FORCE FORMS

For Immediate Release:  August 6, 2009

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle released the text of a letter Chief Negotiator Marie Laderta today delivered to the Randy Perreira, executive director of the Hawai‘i Government Employees Association (HGEA).  The HGEA has told its employees not to complete Reduction-in-Force forms, despite the State having set an August 18, 2009 deadline for the submission of those forms.

“I hope our employees adhere to the deadline we have set, because the possible consequences to them of ignoring the deadline could be the loss of any ability to bump into a different position,” Governor Lingle said.

“I am also very disappointed that the HGEA and UPW have failed to respond to the offer we presented on July 21, 2009. Unfortunately, the State’s deteriorating budget situation is getting worse, not better, and the amount the State can afford to pay in labor costs continues to decline. The unions’ failure to accept or recognize this is, in my opinion, not in their members’ best interests.”

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Attachment – Letter to HGEA

For more information, contact:

Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043