THE INTEREST OF HAWAII'S WORKFORCE AND SMALL BUSINESS
Scott Saiki worked to pass laws to protect our workers and continues to work hard to protect local workers and small businesses. Saiki fights for the wages and economic protection of workers including: workers’ compensation reform, prevailing wage on public works projects, wage protection for workers on state projects, and a minimum wage increase from $7.75 to $10.10.
Saiki helps those who have become displaced or unemployment through unemployment funds and job training funds for displaced workers. With Hawai'i's record breaking unemployment due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Saiki volunteered at the unemployment call centers, which struggled to keep up with the high level of unemployment claims. Under his leadership he helped to round up and organize over 200 volunteers to work 5 days a week at the temporary call center.
He also works on worker's benefits, rights and safety, including: workplace accommodation for breastfeeding, family leave to care for siblings, domestic workers bill of rights, OSHA protections, discriminatory practices, prescription drugs for workers’ compensation recipients, specific wage and employer information disclosure, and noncompete clause ban for technology workers.
PROTECTION AGAINST OVER DEVELOPMENT
Scott Saiki is not afraid to take on big interests and continues to fight against the overdevelopment of Kaka'ako. When the Hawaii Community Development Authority favored developers’ interests over the public, Scott joined with residents to reform HCDA and passed a law that enhanced management, oversight, and public participation of the Authority. Scott’s legislation balances the playing field and gives the public more influence in the HCDA decision making process. When Kakaako Land Co. began towing vehicles parked on Kakaako roads, Scott Saiki passed a law to stop the practice. Kakaako Land was fined $250,000, but filed a pending lawsuit to block the fine. When attempts were made to develop high rise condominiums at Kakaako Makai, Scott Saiki blocked the proposals at the Legislature.
Listening and humility are very important to be an effective leader because this helps with collaboration.
Through my years in leadership positions, starting with serving on the Campus Center Board of the University of Hawaii and now as Speaker of the House of Representatives, I have learned that working with people is far more effective than working around people. Patience and ensuring you have all the available information is very important when making big decisions that affect the lives of everyone in our State. I’ve learned that you cannot make these kinds of decisions solely based on your own emotions. An effective leader needs to be steady under pressure.
The Regular Session of 2018 was my first full session as Speaker of the House of Representatives. I am so proud that during my first year as Speaker, I was able to lead my chamber and work with the Senate to pass:
-
Equal Pay, which prohibits prospective employers from requesting or considering a job applicant’s wage or salary history as part of an employment application process or compensation offer. Historically, women have been paid less than men. By prohibiting a prospective employer from requesting previous salary information, a woman will be more likely to receive a salary based on the job’s value, instead of based on her previous salary, which may have been lower than that of her male counterparts.
-
Title IX, which is one of the most sweeping laws preventing discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation in any education program that receives State funds.
-
A ban on conversion therapy.
-
A $200,000,000 appropriation into the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to generate approximately 1,600 affordable rental housing units for families with an income at or below 80 percent of the Average Median Income.
-
An appropriation of $50,000,000 to address homelessness statewide. This is the biggest appropriation to date to address this longstanding issue.
-
A ban on sunscreen containing oxybenzone or octinoxate to preserve marine ecosystems.
-
Our Care, Our Choice, which allows terminally ill patients who have less than six months to live to determine their own medical care at the end of their lives.
-
Vote by Mail, which I’m proud to say is being implemented statewide for the upcoming election.
A LOOK AT THE PAST
In my time as a State Representative, I have fought to protect the rights of my community and support the voice of the people.
LEADERSHIP AND VALUES
Last year, over 12,000 state legislators from all over the country recognized my leadership and accomplishments and elected me to serve as President-Elect of the National Conference of State Legislators. I am so honored to be the first person from Hawaii and the first Asian-American to be selected for this leadership position and am looking forward to serving as President in August 2021. I believe that my leadership of NCSL will help bring national attention to Hawaii’s accomplishments.
EQUALITY ADVOCATE
Scott Saiki is an advocate and has worked to pass laws to protect women, minorities, and civil rights. Scott will continue to fight for our rights and for us. The issues he has worked on include: same sex marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships, juvenile justice reform, birth certificate gender designation, identification cards, and health insurance gender identity.
He has also worked on the sexual orientation counseling ban and reproductive health protection modernization, workplace discrimination, and funding.
FIGHT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Scott Saiki is an advocate and has worked to pass laws to protect women, minorities, and civil rights. Scott will continue to fight for our rights and for us. The issues he has worked on include: same sex marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships, juvenile justice reform, birth certificate gender designation, identification cards, health insurance gender identity, women’s wage confidentiality and Title IX for public schools. He has also worked on the sexual orientation counseling ban and reproductive health protection modernization, workplace discrimination, and funding.
THE INTEREST OF HAWAII'S WORKFORCE AND SMALL BUSINESS
Scott Saiki worked to pass laws to protect our workers and continues to work hard to protect local workers and small businesses. Saiki fights for the wages and economic protection of workers including: workers’ compensation reform, prevailing wage on public works projects, wage protection for workers on state projects, and a minimum wage increase from $7.75 to $10.10.
Saiki helps those who have become displaced or unemployment through unemployment funds and job training funds for displaced workers. With Hawai'i's record breaking unemployment due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Saiki volunteered at the unemployment call centers, which struggled to keep up with the high level of unemployment claims. Under his leadership he helped to round up and organize over 200 volunteers to work 5 days a week at the temporary call center.
He also works on worker's benefits, rights and safety, including: workplace accommodation for breastfeeding, family leave to care for siblings, domestic workers bill of rights, OSHA protections, discriminatory practices, prescription drugs for workers’ compensation recipients, specific wage and employer information disclosure, and noncompete clause ban for technology workers.
SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION
Scott has developed relationships with each of the principals in his district and works to support them however he can, whether it's through community reading time, campus clean ups, or funding for specific projects, Scott is involved.
