HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Leaders at the United Public Workers union are calling it a win. An arbitrator recently ruled its essential workers will be given hazard pay for their work during the pandemic.
Paramedics, refuse workers, Board of Water supply crews, and parks and rec were among those deemed "essential workers" during the pandemic, and they'll get paid for it.
"As soon as our email went out the members of the decision came in and we gave them a copy of the award, our internet went down because of the rush to the website," said Kalani Werner, UPW state director.
An arbitrator ruled the more than 3,000 members of the UPW on Oahu will get a 15-percent bump for hazard pay for work between March 2020 to March 2022.
"They did not have the option to telework," said Werner. "They did not have the option to stay home. They were deemed essential and the work had to be provided so they came to work everyday."
Don Soares is a chief steward at the Pearl City Refuse Station.
"We had a single day where every supervisor in our yard went home sick on the same day," said Soares. "They all contracted COVID. Therefore one of the drivers had to be temporarily assigned to run the whole yard by himeself."
The city said its reviewing the ruling, and thanked UPW's essential workforce for their service during the COVID pandemic.
"For me the frustration lies at the highest levels," said Soares. "Because I think this should have been negotiated without having to go to arbitration. I thought it was, in my mind, it was a no brainer. We still was working every day. Picking up trash. Business as usual."
A key part of the ruling - workers will get paid for their hourly work, meaning they would also see a bump in their overtime pay.
Right now, neither the city nor the union is sure what the total cost will be. But both sides are currently working on how and when workers will see this hazard pay.
Werner said this is a huge win for the union and its members and he's hoping this will help further negotiations.
"So of course we're gonna be sending this to the employers and asking them to look at the decision and instead of going into arbitration, do what's right by their employees and pay them out," said Werner.