Officials said three units of the Hawaii Governments Employees Association have voted overwhelmingly to ratify new two-year contracts.

The contracts for 14,000 white collar workers in non-supervisory jobs and more than 850 white-collar supervisors included a 4 percent salary increase effective July next year. A separate contract for 800 blue-collar supervisory workers included a 4 percent salary increase this year followed by a 2 percent increase next year.

The association announced late Wednesday night that the white-collar non-supervisory group voted 86 percent to accept; the white-collar supervisory group voted 89 percent to accept; and the blue-collar group voted 90 percent to accept.

HGEA Executive Director Randy Perreira said the ratification signifies the end of four difficult years for members who sacrificed to help Hawaii weather a budget crisis.

About 2,300 HGEA members who work for the University of Hawaii will vote on their two-year tentative contract Thursday.]

The UH deal includes roughly 4 percent annual pay raises. Workers would pay a 40 percent share of their health insurance premiums, down from 50 percent.