Striking nurses at Queen's Medical Center, Kuakini Medical Center and St. Francis Medical Center begin their second week on the picket lines today with no new contract talks scheduled between their union and the hospitals. Strike at 3 hospitals
in second weekKaiser nurses approve a contract
that calls for a 21 percent raiseStar-Bulletin staff
Meanwhile, nurses at Kaiser Medical Center approved a new contract Saturday night that gives them a 21 percent raise over the next three years.
"I am personally very pleased with the agreement," said Kaiser hospital administrator Susan Merrill.
"I think our nurses on behalf of the Hawaii Nurses Association worked very hard to come up with a package that deals with the pressing needs of our nurses," Merrill said.
Kaiser nurses who voted Saturday approved the deal by a "strong margin," according to a spokesman for the Hawaii Nurses Association, although the vote count was not released. The union represents about 562 nurses at the hospital. Last Wednesday, nurses at Kapiolani hospital also ratified a three-year contract.
The HNA said the Kaiser contract provides real retiree medical benefits, safe staffing as well as the wage increases. Nurses will receive an 8 percent increase during the first year, 6 percent in the second year and 7 percent in the third year.
Nurses who have been there seven years will get an additional dollar per hour in the second year of the contract, while nurses who have been there 15 years will get an additional dollar per hour in the third year.
"The more seasoned you are, the more skills you have to offer to the patient," Merrill said.
Health insurance premiums will not be affected, she added.
Sue Scheider, director of the union's collective bargaining organization, said, "Now that their new contract is ratified, the Kaiser nurses will be turning their attention to supporting the HNA nurses on the picket lines at St. Francis, Kuakini and Queen's medical centers."
"Particularly with the holiday season upon us, the Kaiser nurses sincerely hope that their progressive new contract will encourage the other hospitals to resolve their disputes with the striking nurses."
Meanwhile, St. Francis Medical Center has made arrangements to hire replacement nurses from the mainland to care for critical-care and dialysis patients. St. Francis spokeswoman Maggie Jarrett said some replacement nurses were expected to arrive last night.
St. Francis Healthcare System
Queen's Medical Center
Kuakini Health System