HI HB2859

Removes graduate students employed by the University of Hawaii from the statutory exclusion preventing them from joining collective bargaining units under Hawaii labor law.

Allows graduate student workers at the University of Hawaii to unionize and collectively advocate for improved wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Addresses concerns that graduate student salaries have been frozen since 2004 despite rising cost of living, and lag behind comparable universities while faculty workloads have increased due to budget cuts.

Notes elimination of the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Office of the Ombudsman, which previously provided grievance resolution for graduate students.

Takes effect July 1, 2012.