Substitute & Part-Time Teachers are Not Entitled to $56M in Back Wages

The Hawaii Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Wednesday, that certain substitute teachers and part-time teachers who had worked for the State at relevant times between 2000 and 2012 are not entitled to back wages or interest for alleged underpayments by the State.

The total amount of back wages and interest on back wages allegedly owed by the State to more than 28,000 substitute and part-time teachers in two class action suits had totaled more than $56 million.

The decision by the Hawaii Supreme Court closes more than a decade of litigation and ends the claims raised by the class action plaintiffs.

The State previously paid more than $14 million in back wages to substitute teachers.

The State believed, however, that it had paid part-time teachers everything they were owed. The State also denied that it owed interest on the back wages already paid.