“William Stonebraker Image”
House Bill 2701, introduced and passed on second reading yesterday by 20 Democrats in the Hawaii State Legislature,” prohibits a person involved in a labor dispute from hiring persons from the mainland to take the place of workers on strike.”
In other words, strikers, such as concrete workers currently on the picket line, can walkout for as long as they want and the State will demand that they keep their jobs.
This measure removes the inherent employment risk that workers take when they strike and practically keeps their jobs secure even though
others might suffer.
For example: while concrete workers strike, thousands of other jobs are being put at risk.
Carpenters, roofers, plumbers, electricians, dry-wallers, painters, and other subcontractors are facing serious layoffs.
During this time of economic uncertainty it is shameful that some members of the House would so blatantly side with a union that is hurting Hawaii’s people.
Such pro-Labor Union efforts promote a heavy drag on Hawaii’s recovering economy.
”Bill History”
On Feb. 5, 2004, the House EDB committee recommend the measure be passed unamended with the votes as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Schatz, Wakai, Abinsay, Herkes, Karamatsu, Magaoay; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Sonson, Tamayo; 4 Noes: Representative(s) Jernigan, Leong, Marumoto, Ontai; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Chang, B. Oshiro.
On Feb. 17, 2004, the bill passed Second Reading and was referred to the committee on LAB with Representative(s) Blundell, Fox, Jernigan, Meyer, Moses, Ontai, Pendleton, Stonebraker voting no and Representative(s) Bukoski, Evans, Souki, Thielen excused.
”’William Stonebraker is a Republican who represents the Hawaii Kai District in the House of Representatives. He can be reached via email at:”’ mailto:repstonebraker@capitol.hawaii.gov