The Continuing Clout Of Hawaii’s Public Worker Unions…Pushing back against Gov. David Ige’s threatened furloughs, government worker unions showed they still have ample political influence despite a 2018 Supreme Court decision some said would weaken the organizations.
In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court dealt what some said would be a death blow to public worker unions. But recent events show predictions of the unions’ demise were greatly exaggerated.
Last month, after Gov. David Ige announced big cuts in hours – and pay — for government workers to address a predicted budget deficit, the government unions rose up, the governor backed down and the furloughs went off the table, at least through June 30.
