RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

2024 Regular Session Introduced by Jarrett Keohokalole

SB 1572 enhances collective bargaining rights for Honolulu's Emergency Services, health, institutional, and correctional workers, ensuring fair negotiations for better wages and conditions.

Carried over to 2024 Regular Session.

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Bill Overview

Bill Number: SB 1572
Title: Relating to Collective Bargaining
Status: Carried over to 2024 Regular Session
Introduced: January 22, 2025
Primary Sponsor: Senator Keohokalole
Classification: Bill
Subject: Collective bargaining for employees of the City and County of Honolulu Emergency Services Department, as well as health, institutional, and correctional workers.

Purpose and Intent

The primary intent of SB 1572 is to enhance the collective bargaining rights of employees within the City and County of Honolulu's Emergency Services Department, along with other health, institutional, and correctional workers. The bill aims to ensure that these employees have a structured and equitable process for negotiating employment terms, including wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Key Provisions

Collective Bargaining Rights: The bill seeks to formalize and protect the collective bargaining rights of specified employee groups, ensuring they can negotiate as a unified body.

Scope of Employees Covered: The legislation specifically targets employees within the Emergency Services Department of Honolulu, as well as those working in health, institutional, and correctional facilities.

Negotiation Framework: While the bill does not detail specific negotiation frameworks, it implies the establishment of guidelines that would govern how collective bargaining should be conducted for the affected employees.

Affected Parties

Employees: The bill directly impacts employees of the City and County of Honolulu's Emergency Services Department, as well as health, institutional, and correctional workers, providing them with enhanced bargaining power.

Employers: The City and County of Honolulu will need to adapt to the new collective bargaining framework, which may involve changes in negotiation practices and compliance with new regulations.

Legislative Timeline

January 22, 2025: Bill introduced and passed First Reading.

January 27, 2025: Referred to the Economic Development and Technology (EDT) and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health (CPN/WAM) committees.

December 11, 2023: Carried over to the 2024 Regular Session.

March 3, 2023: The bill was received from the Senate in an amended form and passed Third Reading with unanimous support.

February 2023: The bill underwent multiple readings and committee reviews, receiving recommendations for passage with amendments.

Conclusion

SB 1572 represents a significant step towards strengthening the collective bargaining rights of essential workers in Honolulu. By focusing on the Emergency Services Department and other critical sectors, the bill aims to ensure fair negotiation processes that can lead to improved working conditions and benefits for these employees. As the bill progresses through the legislative process, its implications will be closely monitored by stakeholders in both the public and private sectors.

Bill