Hawaiian Electric Industries : statement on carpenters’ smear campaign

Published: 2025-03-27 19:43:03 ET HE

Release Date: 3/27/2025

Download PDF

HONOLULU, Mar. 27, 2025 - Hawaiian Electric today issued this statement in response on the attack campaign launched by the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters:

Let's be clear - this campaign by the Carpenters has nothing to do with the cost of living or legislation or accountability or what executives get paid. This is payback because we wouldn't sign a 20-year Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with the Carpenters - they warned us this is what would happen if we didn't go along.

Their "public opinion poll?" It's a joke. It's called a push poll, a familiar tool of the dark arts used by the Carpenters and the Pacific Resource Partnership, organizations known for more than a decade for their misleading attack ads in political races.

"Sleazy" is what the Star-Advertiser called it during the 2022 campaign when they spent millions to try to defeat a candidate who stood up to them. Civil Beat called it a "coordinated smear campaign" when they went after former Gov. Ben Cayetano in his campaign for Honolulu mayor; PRP later had to apologize to settle a libel suit he brought against them.

That's how these bullies roll. Do what they want or they'll turn their attack machine loose on you.

In our case, they pushed us to sign a labor agreement that could infringe on the exclusive relationship we have with IBEW 1260, which represents more than 1,200 Hawaiian Electric employees. Signing it provides only benefit to the Carpenters union, not to IBEW 1260 members, our company or customers. It's no coincidence they're attacking as we're seeking legislation that would help our company strengthen its financial standing, which will ultimately benefit customers by helping to keep rates affordable.

We asked for some time to negotiate and to involve IBEW 1260. They said sign now or we'll come out hard against you at the capitol and in the community.

We told them no. And this sleazy campaign is the result.

We know we'll take some hits but like Governor Cayetano and many others who have been attacked by the Carpenters and PRP, we thought it was important to stand up for ourselves. While their leadership may prefer to be on the attack, we're always ready to work with union members who are open to negotiating in good faith.

Disclaimer

HEI - Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. published this content on March 27, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on March 27, 2025 at 23:42:06.832.