STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2270

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2310
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor and Environment, to which was
referred S.B. No. 2310 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure that employees who
are unemployed due to a labor dispute shall not be disqualified
for unemployment benefits if the parties have reached an impasse
and, prior to a work stoppage, an offer is made to submit the
dispute to binding arbitration.

     Testimony in favor of this measure was received from the
ILWU Local 142 and 505 members of Unity House.  Testimony in
opposition to this measure was received from the Department of
Labor and Industrial Relations, the Chamber of Commerce of
Hawaii, Construction Industry Legislative Organization, Inc., and
the General Contractors Association of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that the measure promotes the use of
alternative dispute resolution processes by allowing employees
involved in a labor dispute to receive unemployment insurance
benefits if their union has offered to submit to binding
arbitration and the employer refuses to accept the offer.

     Your Committee believes that the measure provides for the
expedient and fair resolution to labor disputes and ensures the
minimization of work stoppages and disruption of services.  The
measure also concomitantly protects employees embroiled in a

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2270
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labor dispute from suffering the severe economic impact that
strikes so often impose.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Labor and Environment that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 2310 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Labor and
                                   Environment,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BOB NAKATA, Chair

 
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