Labor

The state Board of Education has approved a four-year contract for current Superintendent Keith Hayashi that represents an 18% raise, plus performance-based incentives.

Hawaiʻi is facing a growing workforce shortage concern for the state’s construction industry. The solution lies in Generation Z — more on that story from Pacific Business News Editor in Chief Janis Magin.

The official strike notice, sent last week by Unite Here! Local 5 and Hawaii Nurses and Healthcare Professionals, said that workers in the continental U.S. make up to 30% more than workers in Hawaiʻi, adding that unsafe staffing ratios put patients’ health at risk.

The company that manages TheBus is warning riders of a possible labor strike by bus employees. HPR talked to Jenny Lemaota, senior vice president and deputy general manager for OTS, on Tuesday morning.

Randy Perreira, head of the Hawaiʻi AFL-CIO, shares his thoughts on President Trump's threats to withhold back pay from furloughed workers.

Unite Here! Local 5 and Hawaii Nurse and Healthcare Professionals (HNHP), which represent the workers, delivered their official 10-day strike notice. It is scheduled to start Oct. 14 at 6:30 a.m. and continue through Oct. 19.

A strike can take place after Wednesday, when the workers' contracts end. The union members are demanding improved staffing and better wages.

It’s been about six months since Gov. Josh Green put out an executive order to speed up the hiring of former federal workers hit by budget cuts for state jobs. The program received about 6,000 applications and hired about 140 people.

Gov. Josh Green signed a measure into law to financially protect child performers. He signed the measure alongside Maia Kealoha, who portrays Lilo in the live-action adaptation of "Lilo & Stitch."

The Honolulu City Council has been looking to reallocate money in the city’s budget to fund other projects, namely required sewer infrastructure upgrades on Oʻahu, and about $12.4 million could come from funds otherwise meant to hire for Honolulu Police Department jobs that are chronically vacant.