Most people know that Aloha in Hawaiian means "hello" but it also means "goodbye". I am working with Hawaiian businesses in an effort to utilize the latter meaning for unions: Goodbye!
Hawaiian is the second most unionized state with 25.5% of its employees represented by unions. First is New York with 26.6% and Alaska is third with 24.7%.
A recent headline in Pacific Business News reads: Hawaii Unions fight to save jobs and members. It should read: Hawaii Businesses tire of unions and Key to our Survival is Union Free Operations.
The beautiful islands of Hawaii are no different than the rest of the U.S. when it comes to economic recession troubles and business adjustments that must be made in order to remain in business. But some unions such as the Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii State Teachers Association and United Public Workers the rules do not apply. They have filed suit in Honolulu to block Governor Lingle's 3-day a month furlough on state employees for the next 2 years. Rather than work with the system, unions feel they have special privileges and can buck the system. Would you rather the Governor just lay off X% of the workforce instead? Work with, not against. So it goes in the public sector....
In the public sector, many businesses are considering 4-day work weeks. In a recent poll, 57% of business said they could shift to a four-day work week while 34% said they could not. Times they are a changing and unions simply are not. Many business in Utah in both private and public have switched to a 4-day work week with much success in light of the overall economy.
While the unions still hold out hope for the Employee Free Choice Act to increase their numbers, businesses are going to do whatever it takes to survive and for many that means without unionization as a major business expense. This week, Governor Lingle said she will veto union card bill.
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