The Hawai‘i Nurse’s Association is holding a demonstration today aimed to encourage Wilcox Hospital and Hawaii Pacific Health to maintain a proper professional nursing staff large enough to ensure the delivery of quality and safe health care for the people
The Hawai‘i Nurse’s Association is holding a demonstration today aimed to encourage Wilcox Hospital and Hawaii Pacific Health to maintain a proper professional nursing staff large enough to ensure the delivery of quality and safe health care for the people of Kaua‘i, a press release states.
From 4 to 6 p.m. across from Macy’s in Kukui Grove, nurses and other Kaua‘i unions and community supporters will gather on the on the mauka side of Kaumuali‘i Highway.
The Wilcox nurses contract expires on May 31, and three weeks of negotiations with Wilcox and HPH has yet to result in an agreement.
Proposals to try to ensure for full and proper staffing have so far been rejected, representatives of the nursing association state in the release. No contract settlement will occur without agreement on staffing.
Representatives also expressed concern with parity in pay with Honolulu nurses.
“Wilcox nurses deserve similar pay and benefits as Honolulu HPH nurses,” the release states. “Wilcox nurses will not be ‘second class citizens’ of HPH, and retaining Kaua‘i’s best nurses is a priority.”
