Select an option below to continue reading this premium story.
Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading.
The Hawaii Government Employees Association’s professional and scientific workers have ratified a new four-year contract with 11 percent pay raises and step adjustments.
The union reported Friday that 96 percent of the workers who voted accepted the agreement. The HGEA unit covers about 8,100 state and county workers.
The Abercrombie administration has estimated that the contract will cost the state an additional $276 million.
"After lengthy negotiations, HGEA has secured an equitable contract that is aligned with the goals set by our Unit 13 negotiating team to meet our members’ needs," Randy Perreira, the HGEA’s executive director, said in a statement. "As shown by the overwhelming vote to ratify the contract, our members are satisfied with the terms of the new agreement. We commend our negotiators for committing to fulfilling the goals they set that is fair to our members and recognizes their valuable work as public service employees."
State lawmakers could review financing for the agreement at a special session this month on gay marriage.