Wahiawa nurses
hope to avert strikeThe walkout is set for tomorrow
unless new talks are scheduled
Wahiawa General Hospital nurses were going to be working on signs and solidarity, preparing for a strike at 7 a.m. tomorrow.
A rally and membership meeting was planned for the nurses from noon to 4 p.m. today at a strike headquarters established at the home of nurse Tina Fernandez at 1721 Eamis St.
Hospital officials and Hawaii Employers Council negotiators couldn't be reached for comment.
The nurses' negotiators waited by their telephones yesterday, hoping a meeting with management would be called before tomorrow's strike deadline.
The deadline could be extended 72 hours if the hospital asks for a meeting, said Scott Foster, spokesman for the Hawaii Nurses' Association.
"Right now, we're just waiting," said Sherry Raymond, HNA labor relations specialist/liaison. "If they ask us to come back to the table, we're ready."
Management rejected the nurse's last offer on Wednesday and no further talks were scheduled.
Sue Scheider, collective bargaining director for the nurses' association, said she sent a letter to the mediator and chief negotiator for management Thursday, saying "we still think there is a strong possibility that there could be an offer that could be acceptable."
The nurses feel if they can't get a competitive contract, the hospital won't be able to remain open because it will lose nurses to hospitals with better benefits, she said.
The nurses served a 20-day advance notice of intent to strike after receiving the hospital management's "best and final offer" April 13.
At issue are wages, health insurance, mandatory overtime, retiree medical benefits, improved safety provisions and longevity steps in pay to reward nurses for continued service.
The hospital three weeks ago began closing beds and downsizing housekeeping, maintenance and kitchen personnel, said Randy Pisani, primary nurse negotiator.
Wahiawa General originally had 68 nurses before negotiations began, Pisani said. The number then dropped to 65 and now there are 62, with two nurses from the intensive care unit and one from surgery resigning, she said.
She said medical insurance premiums for the nurses were increased in February, going from $138 to $215 in March for part-time nurses and $78 to $148 for full-time nurses.
"It's very crippling to registered nurses with families," she said. "We know we're in a losing situation if we accept any of the proposals the hospital has offered to us now. We're going to lose employees."