Phone company preps for possible strike

Union leaders and officials at Hawaiian Telecom were preparing Sunday for the possibility of a strike after voting by members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

More than 700 union workers cast their ballots on a strike authorization vote Saturday, Hawaii News Now reported. The vote came after IBEW officials said the telecom company issued its "last, best, and final offer," which included reductions in pensions and increases in medical premiums.

"Our membership just gotta take a stand," said IBEW Local 1357 Business Manager Scot Long. "If you look at all the concessions that we’ve given in the past and such to try and help the company and position it to be successful, and then only now to have them come and attack the benefits, health and welfare benefits of our membership, I think it’s time to take a stand."

Hawaiian Telecom, Hawaii’s largest telephone company, said the offer includes a 1 percent compounded wage increase, and that company officials have been negotiating with the union in good faith.

Union officials said signs have been prepared if workers walk off the job, while company officials said contingency plans have been put in place to ensure that customers receive service in the event of a strike.

Results of the strike vote will be released today.

Forest’s lessons to fill weekend

The state is inviting Hawaii County educators to learn about Hawaii’s forests at a weekend workshop next month in North Kona.

The two-day Project Learning Tree workshop will be held in the Puu Waawaa Forest Reserve, a dry forest ecosystem where teachers can learn about many environmental issues firsthand.

Guests include educators Lahela Camara and Emily Leucht of Three Mountain Alliance’s environmental education program Imi Pono no ka Aina and Cheyenne Perry of the Mauna Kea Watershed Partnership.

The workshop, scheduled for Nov. 19-20, is limited to 20 participants. To register, go to hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/PLT/2011.

Brigade finishes training flights

The Army’s 25th Combat Aviation Brigade finished up high-altitude flight operations Friday on Hawaii island in preparation for a deployment to Afghanistan.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported that the training, which began Oct. 7, consisted of flying to three landing zones on Mauna Kea and three on Mauna Loa.

Helicopter pilots practiced power management, approaches, touch-and-go landings and hovering tasks as they prepared for bad weather and low oxygen. The training involved 74 aviators aboard CH-47F Chinooks and UH-60 Black Hawks.

"With the help of the state, we are now able to look the parents, spouses and children of our aviators and their passengers in the eyes knowing we prepared them fully for their mission," said Col. Frank Tate, brigade commander, referring to a conservation district use permit from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

About 2,600 soldiers will deploy in early 2012 for a year.