Top leaders with the Hawaii Nurses Association have come out in support of the 140 Wilcox Memorial Hospital nurses who are poised to go on strike this Saturday following the collapse in contract talks. In an Hawaii Nurses Association news
Top leaders with the Hawaii Nurses Association have come out in support of the 140 Wilcox Memorial Hospital nurses who are poised to go on strike this Saturday following the collapse in contract talks.
In an Hawaii Nurses Association news release Tuesday, Luanne Long, president of HNA and a registered nurse, announced the union would bring “whatever Kaua‘i nurses need to achieve their goal.”
At the same time, Aggie Pigao Cadiz, executive director of HNA, left for Washington, D.C., to consult with Susan Biachi-Sands, executive director of the United American Nurses, of which HNA is a member.
Wilcox Hospital spokeswoman Lani Yukimura said yesterday the hospital will remain open.
The hospital plans to bring in up to 60 traveling nurses to replace the 140 nurses if the strike starts as planned at 7 a.m. this Saturday.
“We intend to provide the full spectrum of services that patients expect and deserve,” Yukimura said.
She said people can call the Wilcox patient hotline or go to the Wilcox Web site, both of which will be updated regularly, for the latest information on the hospital’s preparation for a strike.
“We are trying to tell the community that they can always count on us, because our mission is to provide high-quality patient care,” she said.
Contract negotiations broke down over the issues of acuity nursing and working conditions for 30 nurses in special hospital units, including surgical services.
Last week, 89 percent of the 140 registered and licensed practical nurses voted not to ratify a final contract settlement offered by Hawaii Public Health Wilcox’s parent company.
The HNA subsequently issued a 10-day strike notice to begin Saturday.
Long states in the news release the board of directors of HNA last weekend significantly liberalized access to the strike fund for Kaua‘i’s nurses.
With the possibility of the strike, about 50 Kaua‘i nurses met Tuesday afternoon with the Kaua‘i Police Department to “negotiate an understanding of picketing tactics,” the release states.
HNA officials and KPD reached an agreement on the location of picket lines and neutral zones, as well as the style of picketing.
HNA officials have said picket lines would most likely be set up on Kuhio Highway in front of the hospital and in front of the hospital’s emergency room.
“If we are forced into striking, the nurses will picket with integrity and grace,” Tracy Majerik, a registered nurse, said in the release.
During the Tuesday meeting at the Hawaii Government Employee’s Association headquarters in Lihu‘e, Dr. Bill Puette of the University of Hawai‘i’s Center outlined what strikers can legally do on the picket line.
The nurses remain willing to meet with the HPH Corporation’s Wilcox representatives “any time of the day or night to discuss compromises on all remaining issues in the negotiations,” the HNA release states.
“The nurses are prepared to compromise on the issues, but not on the safety of our patients,” D.Q. Jackson, a nurse negotiator and registered nurse, said in the release.
The HPH representatives have refused to consider any changes to their positions on the issues, the release said.
The issues of salary and benefits were resolved early on in the negotiations.
Both sides agreed to a 21 percent wage increase over three years for the nurses.
For the latest information on the nurse strike, contact 245-1205, or www.wilcoxhealth.org.
• Lester Chang, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or lchang@kauaipubco.com
