UPW WORKERS OK NEW PACT

Some 12,000 blue-collar, correctional and healthcare workers have
overwhelmingly ratified a new contract, in which they agree to random
drug and alcohol testing along with a 4 percent wage increase this
year and next, officials announced yesterday.

"The media and others have made alcohol and substance abuse testing a
major part of our negotiations," said Dayton Nakanelua, United Public
Workers state director. "We also look at ourselves as part of the
solution, a solution in our homes and our communities."

The agreement comes as public school teachers are still awaiting the
results of their ratification vote for a contract that also calls for
random drug testing. For many teachers, drug testing was a major
sticking point -- so much so the contract vote was too close to call
after 6,000 teachers cast ballots last week. Teachers are now waiting
for a tally of absentee ballots, which are due Wednesday.

In a news conference yesterday to announce the UPW contract, Gov.
Linda Lingle said union members did a "brave and courageous" thing by
agreeing to random drug and alcohol testing.

"The policy is about making sure the public is safe. It's about
helping those few who do have alcohol or drug problems," Lingle said.
"You are leaders now in the state. You are true union leaders in the
best sense."

The two-year contract calls for a 4 percent increase in July, and a
second 4 percent increase in July 2008. Workers will also get smaller
increases -- of about 1 percent -- that are equivalent to step increases.

The total cost of the wage package is about $45 million.

The contract covers custodians, sanitation workers, prison guards,
public hospital workers, food service employees and others who work
for the state, city or Neighbor Island counties.

Marie Laderta, chief negotiator and director for the state Department
of Human Resources Development, said the ratification vote count was
completed Friday night.

About 94 percent of workers in bargaining unit one, which covers
9,000 blue-collar workers, approved the contract.

Bargaining unit 10, which includes 2,800 healthcare and correctional
workers, ratified the contract with 96 percent of members voting in
support. The smaller bargaining unit had already agreed to random
alcohol and drug tests during their last contract period in 2005.

Both units have also already agreed to "reasonable suspicion" drug
testing in the past years.

Nakanelua said "reasonable suspicion" testing will continue, even
after the random drug testing is put in place.

The costs of the random testing are not yet clear, but Nakanelua said
cost estimates from testing labs range from $35 to $45 per testing
analysis.

Officials also did not know yesterday when workers would start being
asked to submit to tests. Union leaders said the drug testing would
be administered by individual employers.

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CONTRACT DETAILS

Two-year contract, with expiration in July 2009

4 percent increase, effective July 2007

Second 4 percent increase, effective July 2008

Random drug and alcohol testing for all workers

Step increases -- of about 1 percent -- for workers in 2008 and 2009