HONOLULU -- Contracts for several public sector unions expire June 30 and so far only the Hawaii Government Employees Association has ratified terms of a new contract.

County mayors as they are under the gun to put their budgets to bed and they were hoping for assurance that they would have some flexibility to negotiate supplemental agreements under the deal made with HGEA.

The members ratified a contract that calls for a 5 percent pay cut, and a 50-50 split on health premiums but also gives workers more paid time off in exchange for eliminating furlough days.

“Every county runs differently and we want to make sure the master agreement had some flexibility based on our individual situations,” said Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho.

“We are trying to get clarification on that. The law does allow for it, but we will have to get clarification from the HGEA union as to whether they are going to be willing to do this,” said Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa.

Arakawa says on Maui where 80 percent of construction trades have been on the bench for the past year, now is not time to give government workers more paid time off.

“If you did not have a job and you found out we were having increased days off wouldn’t you be incensed? I told the governor this is not a position I support,” said Arakawa.

The mayors also expressed concern about the financial impact in a new clause in the HGEA contract which essentially gives its members parody if another government union negotiates better terms.

The mayors said they hope to be presented with a master agreement by next week.

“It was a good discussion and it will continue,” said Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi.

The unions also asked for an update on contract negotiations with the outstanding unions. The state has yet to settle with the firefighters, police and the blue collar workers with the United Public Workers union. The teachers union is also still negotiating with the state, although those talks don’t directly affect the counties budget.