Hawaii Fire Fighters Win Binding Arbitration Award

February 21, 2007 -- Hawaiian Islands, HI Local 1463 will receive an across-the-board pay increase of 5 percent per year over four years as part of a binding arbitration award. Local 1463 entered into binding arbitration in January when it was unable to reach an agreement on a collective bargaining contract.

“I’m pleased with the outcome of the award,” Robert Lee, president of Local 1463, told the Star Bulletin. “Our fire fighters are getting reasonable pay raises, and based on the state of the economy for our state, I think these are reasonable increases for the employers.” Lee says pay for fire fighters in Hawaii was as much as 30 to 40 percent less than what fire fighters on East Coast earn.

According to a Honolulu city official, the award – which covers 1,800 fire fighters statewide – will cost the city $49 million over the term of the contract. By law, the state legislature and all four County Councils need to approve and fund the February 8 award by the three-member arbitration panel. The award could also set a precedent for other state and county collective bargaining contracts that are currently in arbitration or negotiation.