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‘Stand up for Public Education’ rally

Thousands of Hawaii public school teachers rallied and chanted around the state Capitol on Thursday to protest the lack of a new labor contract.

"If we don’t get no contract, you don’t get no peace," teachers shouted through megaphones. Many carried signs that read, "Governor, where’s our contract?" and "You can’t put students first if you put teachers last."

An estimated 4,000 to 5,000 teachers attended the event, according to the Hawaii State Teachers Association, which organized the rally.

Teachers have been working under a "last, best and final offer" the state imposed in July 2011 that hit teachers with pay cuts and higher health insurance premiums. The state and HSTA are negotiating a new deal and will head into mediation talks Monday, HSTA President Wil Okabe said.

"We are demanding that the employer provide a fair and equitable contract that helps undo damage done to us for the past two years by an imposed contract," Okabe said. "We need to move beyond this into the real business of transforming public education (and) improve student learning."

Several teachers at the rally said they hoped to send a message to the Department of Education and Gov. Neil Abercrombie that they are united in wanting to settle the labor dispute, which is entering its 20th month.

"We’re united, and one way or another, we’re going to make something happen," said Doug Robertson, a fourth-grade teacher at Kalei­opuu Elementary in Wai­pahu. "Two years is a long time to be angry. … Hawaii hasn’t seen teachers unify like this in a long time, and this makes very clear that we’re ready and willing to fight."

McKinley High School English teacher Rick Price, who’s been teaching for 15 years, added, "I hope the governor sees that we’re serious. Teachers really go above and beyond the call of duty naturally, but we do want a contract."

Julia Min, a preschool special-education teacher at Moku­lele Elementary School, said "the 5 percent cut is really taking a toll on my finances."

Nohea Goo, an eighth-grade math teacher at Dole Middle School, said she and many of her colleagues have been teaching summer school courses to supplement their income.

"It’s encouraging to see so many people turn out because even though we kind of got screwed over, it shows that we’re still willing to do whatever needs to be done for the students," said Goo, a teacher for 11 years.

At issue have been disputes about pay and a performance-based evaluation system tied to the department’s pledged reforms under the federal Race to the Top grant program.

Okabe said the union is fighting for "an evaluation system that, at its core, will improve the practice of teaching, that improves students’ learning and produces real results."

In December the union rejected the state’s offer of 2 percent annual raises over two years. The following month, the state opposed the union’s proposal of 4 percent increases for teachers in each year of a four-year offer.

Hawaii public school teachers, including nonclassroom and 12-month teachers, earn an average annual salary of $53,120, according to the state Department of Education.

Campbell High School English teacher Hilda Carson held a sign at the rally that read, "2% increase = 1 tank of gas a month."

"That proposed 2 percent increase, after taxes, would come to $64 a month based on my salary," Carson said. "We teachers have bills to pay, too. We don’t want to become a burden to the state. I hope the governor will come to the table with open ears."

HSTA said it hopes to have a contract agreement ratified before April 26 to meet lawmakers’ internal deadline for money bills this session.

The current state budget does include funds to restore 5 percent cuts for all public employees, but any additional costs tied to a new labor contract would need to be added before the April deadline.