1978: Labor Gains Presence in the Con Con

Labor does well in Con Con vote

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Leading up to the 1978 Con Con, there were rumors that government employees would be stripped of their right to collectively bargain and strike.  This was outrageous to this class of workers given than in 1950, employees of private companies could collectively bargain and strike.  However, government researchers began to lobby legislatures that allowing public workers to strike would be a disservice to the whole society (Najita).  The circulation of these ideas riled up government employee unions, such as United Public Workers and the Hawai'i Government Employee Association to make sure they would have a seat in the Constitutional Conventions, to push for their interest to collectively bargain and strike.