The Queen's Medical Center and the union representing 821 striking nurses have agreed to go back to the bargaining table with the federal mediator Monday. Queen’s, nurses agree to
new talks on Monday
Star-Bulletin staff
"The nurses union initiated coming back to the table," Queen's spokeswoman Lynn Kenton said.
A total of 1,400 nurses are on strike at Queen's, St. Francis and Kuakini medical centers.
Sue Scheider, the Collective Bargaining Organization director for the union, said in a written statement, "The Hawaii Nurses Association has continued to make it known that the union would be very interested in going back to mediation and would be available any day, any time to resume discussions with the three hospitals' management."
Negotiations between the union and Queen's ended Nov. 30 when the hospital made what it called its best and final offer.
The nurses rejected that offer Dec. 2 and went on strike Dec. 3.
Nurses at St. Francis and Kuakini went on strike on Dec. 2. Scott Foster, spokesman for the union, said yesterday no new talks have been scheduled with those two hospitals.
St. Francis Healthcare System
Queen's Medical Center
Kuakini Health System
