City and County of Honolulu Supplement Agreement – Unit 13 Engineer Compensation

Updated May 7

View Supplemental Agreement and Proposed Salary Schedule 

Unit 13 employees in the City and County of Honolulu’s affected engineering classes voted to approve the supplemental agreement to increase their compensation, effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025:

Total votes cast: 146
Total yes votes: 146
Percentage: 100%

Mahalo to everyone who voted

 Voting Information

Ratification for this agreement will start on Friday, May 3 and close at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 6. Employees eligible to vote will receive an email from ElectionBuddy with a ballot link.

  1. All voting will be done through electronic ballot.
  2. Voting starts on Friday, May 3 and will remain open until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 6.
  3. On May 3, an electronic ratification ballot will be sent to your personal email address from “HGEA Ballot,” with the subject, “BALLOT: HGEA – City BU13 Engineer Compensation Supplemental Agreement Ratification”
  4. If you do not see a ballot email in your personal inbox on May 3, check your Junk Mail or Spam folder. See instructions on how to request a ballot. Requests for ballots must be received by 2:30 p.m. on May 6 (no later than two hours before the close of electronic voting).

Results of the ratification votes will be reported on Tuesday, May 7

In an effort to address the City and County of Honolulu’s challenges in recruiting and retaining engineers, Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration has proposed a supplemental agreement to increase compensation for Unit 13 employees in the following city’s engineering classes: 

  • Chief Control Engineer
  • Chief Drainage Engineer
  • Chief Plans Examining Engineer
  • Civil Engineer I through VI
  • Design & Construction Branch Chief
  • Electrical Engineer I through VI   
  • Energy Recovery Engineer      
  • Mechanical Engineer I through VI
  • Plans Examining Engineer III through VI
  • Radio Engineer
  • Structural Engineer IV through VI
  • Supervising Project Manager
  • Telecommunications Engineer
  • Traffic Engineer I through III
  • Wastewater Plant Engineer I and II

Under the proposed supplemental agreement, effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, the following would apply to affected employees:

  • Placement on a new temporary salary schedule at their respective salary range and step. Base salaries will be a minimum of 10% higher than what they would receive with the current salary schedule that would go in effect on July 1, 2024. This increase is in addition to the 3.59% across the board increase in the July 1, 2024 salary schedule. The city is also proposing higher salary increases at the SR24 level and above to address retention issues.
  • Continuation of applicable step movements as they become eligible according to Unit 13 step movement plan (except following an equity adjustment).
  • Continuation of shortage differentials for eligible employees.
  • Possible approval of equity adjustments if a new engineer within a job class covered by this agreement is hired above the minimum step in the same department, division, and section, and is in the same job class and position with similar duties/responsibilities.

While the duration of this supplemental agreement cannot extend past the expiration of the current Unit 13 contract on June 30, 2025, the city’s intent is to work towards a more permanent solution to compensate city engineers appropriately.