The HLRB did not find that HSTA engaged in bad faith bargaining, but did order HSTA to review the financial plan over the next two weeks. If the parties cannot come to an agreement on the state's ability to pay, the HLRB will agree that the parties are at impasse. Never in my nearly 30 years of bargaining have I seen the Board do something this unreasonable. We will, however, review the financial documents carefully. Upon cursory review of the State s financial plan, HSTA found it to contain many incorrect figures.
Bargaining is at a critical point.
Declaring impasse states that the parties are logjammed and cannot come to agreement without outside help. HSTA has been working diligently at settling the teacher contract for more than 2 years. The contract, originally expiring June 1999, was extended twice and finally expired in January 2000. After nearly a year of public school teachers working without a contract, the Hawaii State Teachers Association declared that contract talks with the State have reached an impasse. Our members would rather settle and concentrate their efforts on educating Hawaii's children.