Members of the United Public Workers union yesterday overwhelmingly ratified a new contract that includes furloughs of state and city workers.

The union said 88 percent of members voted in favor of the contract.

Under the terms of the agreement, 9,000 workers could be furloughed up to 13 days for the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends June 30, and up to 24 days in the coming fiscal year.

County mayors have pledged to not begin furloughs until July 1.

In a joint statement yesterday, the four county mayors thanked the union for making sacrifices in consideration of the state and counties' ongoing economic woes.

"We're grateful that the UPW recognized the need for shared sacrifices during a very difficult economic period and came to the table ready to collaborate on paring spending," they said.

POLICE ARREST SUSPECT IN N. SHORE SHOOTING

A 58-year-old man was arrested yesterday after police said he fired several rounds from a handgun following an argument in Hale'iwa.

No one was injured in the 5:35 p.m. incident. The man remained in police custody last night pending possible charges of terroristic threatening, reckless endangering, and burglary.

Police said the man got into an argument with a parking lot attendant in Hale'iwa and pointed a gun at the worker before fleeing. A police officer later spotted the man standing along a street in the Sunset Beach area with a gun, police said.

The man threatened the officer and fired the gun into the air, police said. He ran into the garage of a home on Mamao Street and fired the gun into a door, police said.

When other officers arrived, the man put down his gun and surrendered without further incident, said Maj. Janna Mizuo, police spokeswoman.

ENDORSEMENT ANGERS FORMER ILWU CHIEF

The endorsement of Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann's gubernatorial campaign by the Hawai'i union representing longshoremen has caused its former president to quit two union-affiliated boards in protest.

Local 142 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union announced its support of Hannemann on Tuesday, saying the mayor will create jobs and work cooperatively with the Legislature and county mayors.

The endorsement irked Eusebio "Bobo" Lapenia Jr., who was active in the local for 30 years and was its president from 1992 to 2003.

Lapenia said he prefers Hannemann's rival for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, because Abercrombie has always been supportive of the union.

Lapenia said he quit boards that oversee the union's real estate holdings and health care program.