Pubdate: Wed, 02 May 2007 Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI) Copyright: 2007 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. Contact: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/195 Author: Wray Jose BLAME GOV. LINGLE, NOT UNION, FOR PROVISION Those who criticize the Hawai'i State Teachers Association as having "bargained away" their civil rights are misguided. What HSTA bargained for teachers was a contract proposal that included a pay raise. It was Gov. Linda Lingle's idea to tie that pay raise to random drug testing on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. If the controversial package had not been submitted to the rank and file, thousands of teachers would have been disappointed they were not given a chance to decide for themselves whether to accept or reject it. The decision to send it out to teachers for a vote was entirely reasonable. Instead of criticizing HSTA, those upset with random drug testing should direct their anger at the true source of their frustration. Wray Jose Honolulu - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom