It is hard to believe that another year has come and gone. Each year seems to come with its own lessons. Filled with both big wins and upsetting losses, 2024 taught us that our fight for fairness is never over. In victory and defeat, we must never quit.
2024 was an election year, and a challenging one at that. On the federal level, labor suffered a disappointing setback with the election of Donald Trump, whose anti-labor Project 2025 threatens to dismantle the federal workforce and turn back hard-fought, hard-won rights. We are fortunate to have re-elected friends of workers and HGEA, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, and U.S. Reps. Jill Tokuda and Ed Case, who will continue to stand for us in Congress.
On the local election level, our members on Hawaii Island helped deliver a tremendous victory for Dr. Kimo Alameda, turning the page on the failed anti-worker leadership of the Roth administration. Mahalo to all of our Hawaii island members, retirees, and their families for their support.
At the state Legislature, HGEA secured a new tool to target specific job classes where salaries are not competitive and push for better pay thanks to the passage of our repricing bill. We are now able to push to negotiate pay adjustments for specific classes with an appeal mechanism in place when the employer rejects our efforts.
I am pleased to report that we’ve won several more victories in our years-long fight for temporary hazard pay for those employees who worked during the pandemic. There is still unfinished business, however.
We have reached settlements for employees in the state executive branch, Department of Education, and Kauai County.
In our Hawaii County case, we received an arbitrator’s decision with several discrepancies and inconsistencies. We’re employing all our legal options to ensure employees get what they deserve. Discussion on a settlement with the City & County of Honolulu continue.
Our fight for progress and fairness is not a straight line. It will always be a couple steps forward and another step back. That’s why staying HGEA Strong is so important. None of our successes would be possible without the strength and solidarity of you, our HGEA members.
Mahalo for everything you do for our state and community. On behalf of our board of directors, leaders and staff, season’s greetings, and best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year.
On the heels of celebrating our 90th year of championing public worker rights in Hawaii, we have a long and successful record to be proud of. Now, let’s go make 2025 one for the history books.
In solidarity,
Randy Perreira
Executive Director