Hawaiʻi County Completes COVID-19 Hazard Pay Agreements
Hawaiʻi County Completes COVID-19 Hazard Pay Agreements
Following through on his commitment to settle hazard pay fairly for all County of Hawaiʻi employees, Mayor Kimo Alameda announces the completion of negotiations with public sector unions for compensation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Alameda met with representatives from United Public Workers (UPW) last week and the State of Hawaiʻi Organization of Police Officers on Monday (SHOPO) to sign their hazard pay agreements. Each agreement is similar to those signed earlier with the Hawaiʻi Government Employees Association and Hawaiʻi Fire Fighters Association, with employees receiving 15% pay for hours worked over a two-year period.
“Our County workers put themselves at risk during the pandemic providing essential public services, and the issue of hazard pay had been unresolved for too long,” Mayor Alameda said. “Since taking office, I have been meeting with union representatives to work through these issues. I am pleased that we have reached agreements that properly recognizes our employees’ dedication to serving our communities.”
Representatives from UPW and SHOPO recognized the positive working relationship they have with the County administration.
“It was really refreshing as a union leader for your administration to come in and put this as one of its top priorities to resolve,” Kalani Werner, UPW State Director, told Mayor Alameda. “You were able to realize the issues. And within months of you taking office, to present an offer for our members to review and accept is amazing. For us to be able to sit down, talk story and resolve the issue is how it should be done.”
Sean Phelan, SHOPO Hawaiʻi County Chapter Chair, commented: “We are really appreciative of you taking care of us. And it has been a long time coming. I think everybody is going to be really happy that we finally close this up and put this behind us.”
In total, the County conservatively estimates that it will spend up to $70 million on hazard pay for union employees and excluded managers who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic.
