Survey, Governor, and Paychecks

Governor Abercrombie visits the DLIR - Wage Standards Division (WSD).
 Photographed here with some of the WSD crew in Room 340, 830 Punchbowl St., Honolulu.
 

    So what does a survey, Governor Abercrombie and paychecks have in common?  These are all important events that happened in the Wage Standards Division last week.

Invitation to Participate in Prevailing Wage Surveys Sent Out by Snail Mail
       If you are a chlorinator, concrete mixer driver/booster driver, drapery installer, termite treater,  or water well driller, and work on public projects, you recently received an invitation to participate in an online survey from the Research and Statistics Office, our partners in the administration of the Wages and Hours of Employees on Public Works, Chapter 104, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  The five named classifications are the only classifications of work the Department independently surveys.  If you believe you should be included in the survey you must contact the Research & Statistics Office at (808) 586-9019 or by e-mail at dlir.rs.wrs@hawaii.gov as soon as possible because the survey ends August 2, 2013.
      The rest of the classifications of labors and mechanics listed in the wage rate schedules for public works jobs are dictated by the current prevailing trade union in that classification.  The determination that a particular trade union prevails was made by a federal survey some time ago.  Our partners in research and statistics have a good relationship with our federal counterparts because when we review the identified wage rates sometimes we find a discrepancy.  Because our law says the State rates can not be lower than the federal rates (see Section 104-2(b)(2), HRS), there will be a discussion on what amounts are allowable under the law to resolve our differences.
      The survey of the remaining five groups is an important survey to be able to determine accurate prevailing rates in those classifications.  If you're not participating and you work in those arenas you are depriving the industry of an accurate reflection of today's wage rates.

Governor visits WSD
     A week ago, Governor Abercrombie visited the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on Oahu in Honolulu.  Wage Standards Division (WSD) was one stop on the tour.  We have fourteen employees working at WSD on Oahu right now and because the visit was during the summer and some were on vacation,  and the timing coincided with the lunch period, only half of the employees were available for the photo above.
     The Governor thanked everyone for participating in the economic program to get the State back on its feet.  He was referring to the pay cut everyone in our office experienced for the last 3 years as 100% general funded divsion.  While he was hesitant at the WSD meeting to commit to any specific funding issues, we had a chance to share with him the hole the Division is in that was created by the current back log of cases and the loss of unreplaced personnel over the years. We just hope he takes to heart the info shared on the charts and graphs and understands how having to make certain choices hurts both employees and employers in different ways and makes our effectiveness weaker, despite being able to celebrate some successes this year.

Paychecks returned to 2008 levels
     Last Friday, the State issued paychecks that restored 2008 compensation rates to employees who are "lagged" five days, that is those who were hired in the last century.   The 5% pay cut experienced in the last few years was restored for those general-funded employees.  Employees hired in this century will have to wait until August 5 to see their paychecks return to 2008 levels.  The State and counties are excluded from from the laws enforced by Wage Standards that require payment of wages within 7 days of the end of the pay period. (see 388-(2)(b), HRS)
      The good news is that units 3 and 4, of which we have 4 employees, will also see a little extra, as those who were due a step increase during that time will get it.  Unfortunately, the issue is not resolved because most of the WSD employees are Unit 13 and they will only see a restoration to the 2008 levels until there is some agreement in their negotiations.  We continue to be hopeful.
     So while sequestration is looming big in many jurisdictions we hope that on the see-saw of financial distribution of federal and state funding issues at the DLIR, it is our turn to be on the high side.  With unemployment at 4.6%, the lowest since September 2008, the outlook is encouraging.