The United Public Workers Unit 1 today voted in favor of ratifying a new collective bargaining pact that will allow for as many as 37 furlough days through June 2011.

The new pact was accepted by 88 percent of voting UPW members.
In a joint statement released this afternoon, Kaua'i Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr., Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Hawai'i County Mayor Billy Kenoi and Maui County Mayor Charmaine Tavares thanked the union for making sacrifices in consideration of the state and counties' ongoing economic woes.
"We're grateful that the UPW recognized the need for shared sacrifices during a very difficult economic period and came to the table ready to collaborate on paring spending," the mayors said. "The public is very dependent on the services provided by UPW members and we believe this agreement will ensure we can continue to fulfill our obligations."
The new agreement covers an estimated 9,000 state and county workers. It allows for 13 furlough days during the remainder of the current fiscal year and up to 24 furlough days for the fiscal starting July 1, 2010.