Labor Education Advisory Council (LEAC)

Regular Meeting Agenda

December 10, 2025

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

 

Join In-Person:       University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu

                                 91-1001 Farrington Hwy., Kapolei, HI 96707

                                 James and Abigail Campbell Library, 2nd Floor, Room B217

 

Join Remotely:       *Online: https://hawaii.zoom.us/j/82976913085

                                  Call: +1 (669) 219-2599

                                  Meeting ID: 829 7691 3085

                                  Passcode: leac1210

 

*If individuals joining remotely experience connectivity issues online, then they should join by phone instead.

 

Download Meeting Agenda and Materials: 25.1210 LEAC Regular Meeting or https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1T-axfYnAuCIUxGa3q1oHOoBIPclr-EJI?usp=sharing

 

Agenda:

I. Call to Order

II. Invited Guest: Maenette Benham, Chancellor, UH West O‘ahu

III. Approval of Minutes

A. Regular Meeting 8/27/2025

 

IV. Reports

 

            A. CLEAR Director Report

                        1. CLEAR Strategic Planning Results

                                    a) Focus on: Relationships, Research, Communications

                                    b) Pilot projects

                                                (1) To improve the message of who-we-are and what-we-do

                                                (2) To increase enrollment in academic and continuing education programs

                                                (3) To evaluate funding sources and determine what’s needed for intentional upscaling

                        2. Rutledge policy for fund expenditure and disposition draft was reviewed by the UHWO Policy Committee on Nov 21, awaiting results.

                        3. Credit and Non-Credit enrollment data

                                    a) In December, fifth LBST Certificate graduate M. Bursack IV.

                                    b) Will analyze past enrollment data for reporting at the next meeting.

                        B. CLEAR Faculty & Staff Updates

 

V. Consultation

                        A. Procedure for digitization and publishing of archive materials.

                                    1. CLEAR will follow UH Data Classifications Policy (EP 2.214), adapted for archive materials.

                                    2. Materials classified as Public (no risk) may be digitized and made available for public access at CLEAR’s discretion.

                                    3. Materials classified as Restricted (low risk) will be sanitized, digitized, and only by request sent via a secure file transfer service, i.e. UH File Drop or Dropbox.

                                    4. Sensitive (medium risk) and Regulated (high risk) will only be accessible for viewing in-person at the archive.

                        B. Define core requirements for expansion of the Labor Studies program.

                                    1. Labor History and Labor Law

                                    2. Labor Union Business Administration

                                    3. Collective Bargaining

                                                a) Contract Administration

                                                b) Contract Interpretation

                                                c) Contract Enforcement

                                    4. Labor-Management Relations

                                                a) Negotiation

                                                b) Mechanisms for Dispute Resolution

                                    5. Duty of Fair Representation

                                                a) Unfair Labor Practices

                                                b) Negotiated Grievance Procedures

                                                c) Labor Arbitration and Mediation

                                    6. Labor Communications

                                    7. Labor Research and Data Analysis

                                    8. Labor Advocacy and Policy

                        C. Accelerated program development

                                    1. Sample accelerators

                                                a) Prior learning credits

                                                b) 90-credit bachelor’s degree

                                                c) 7-week long courses (instead of 15 weeks long)

                                                d) Professional development courses stackable towards earning academic credit

                        D. Survey for policy research for 2026 legislative session for the purpose of issue education. Draft reports:

                                    1. Five Core Challenges of Artificial Intelligence, D. Dizon

                                    2. Workforce Priorities, D. Dizon

                                    3. Hawai‘i Labor Under Siege, E. Cachola

 

VI. Councilors

                        A. Welcome new Councilor Kalani Werner, State Director, United Public Workers/AFSCME Local 646.

                        B. Retired Councilor Val Ceria, Business Manager, Plumbers & Fitters UA Local 675

                                    1. Nominee Sam Barrette, Jr, Business Manager, Plumbers & Fitters UA Local 675

                                    2. Other nominees?

 

VII. Standing and Ad Hoc Committees

                        A. Volunteers for Standing Committees

                                    1. Executive Committee composition as established:

                                                a) LEAC Chair and Vice Chair will serve as the Chair and Vice Chair of this committee

                                                b) Chair and vice chair of the Legislative Committee

                                                c) Chair and vice chair of ad hoc committees, i.e. Organizing Committee

                                    2. Legislative Committee Volunteer Members

                                                a) Chair (must be a LEAC councilmember)

                                                b) Vice Chair (must be a LEAC councilmember)

                                                c) Labor union government/legislative affairs employees

                                                d) CLEAR Director

                                    3. Organizing Committee

                                                a) The stated purpose is to firmly connect LEAC to the students in the Labor Studies classes and/or certificate program through collective/social action in a manner that                                                        serves to recruit new students into the program and assist graduating students in placement for internships or project-based work within the labor community.

                                                b) Volunteer Members:

                                                            (1) Chair (must be a LEAC councilmember)

                                                            (2) Vice Chair (must be a LBST Certificate graduate from the labor community)

                                                            (3) Graduates and students of the Labor Studies (LBST) Certificate program who work for a labor organization

                                                            (4) Current LBST students regardless of union affiliation.

 

VIII. Announcements and Comments

                        A. Public announcement of upcoming events
                        B. Comments on relevant issues not included in the meeting agenda. Be advised that compliance with Sunshine Law prevents the LEAC from discussing or acting on issues not included in the posted agenda, but issues raised may be included in a future agenda for the Council’s consideration.

 

IX. Next quarterly meeting dates: February 11, 2026 and May 13, 2026

 

X. Call for Adjournment

 

Testimony may be submitted to LEAC by mail or hand delivery to the Center for Labor Education & Research (CLEAR) at 91-1001 Farrington Hwy., Kapolei, HI 96707 or by e-mail to clear@hawaii.edu with “TESTIMONY” in the subject line. Submit written testimony 24 hours prior to the meeting to allow sufficient time for review prior to any decision-making. Later received testimony will be retained for the meeting record. Oral testimony may be given during the meeting. Oral testimony is limited to a total of three (3) minutes per agenda item.

 

If needed for full participation in this meeting, request an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation for a disability by contacting Celia Remillard at (808) 689-2521 or by email cremilla@hawaii.edu as early as possible, prior to the meeting.