140 nurses on Kauai ready to go on strike

Barring a reprieve, the nurses will walk off the job at 7 a.m.

LIHUE » Barring a last-minute turnabout, 140 of Kauai's nurses say they will walk off the job today at 7 a.m.

Both the Wilcox administration and Hawaii Nurses Association union members are preparing for the worst: months of picketing and pinching pennies.

"We did tell the nurses to expect to be out for three months," said Claudine Tomasa, a registered nurse and a labor relations specialist with the union. "I always give them the worst-case scenario, though."

Tomasa said she and other union officials were putting the final touches yesterday on preparations for the strike, including a new headquarters across from the hospital.

She added that hundreds of people are expected at picket lines fronting the hospital today, with the help of other unions, including members from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Hawaii Government Employees Association and others. Many others, including local physicians, have given monetary donations to help the nurses during the strike.

The nurses "are very worried but are aware that they will have financial assistance from the union," Tomasa said. She added that many have started looking for second jobs.

As for today, both sides agreed any demonstrations should be peaceful.

Hospital spokeswoman Lani Yukimura said both sides met with Kauai Police Department officials Thursday to discuss boundary lines.

"The police will be helping with access, making sure things are safe and all entrances will be open," Yukimura said.

Administration is also ready to go, with about 60 replacement nurses on island and ready to start today. They are prepared for the strike to go for a while as well but are hopeful it ends as soon as possible, Yukimura said.

"This is not a good thing for anybody," Yukimura added.

A meeting between the union and administration, held Thursday at the behest of a federal negotiator, ended with nothing accomplished, both sides said, and no meetings are scheduled.

The hospital, part of the nonprofit Hawaii Pacific Health, has started an information hot line related to the strike at (808)-245-1205. Information is also available online at www.wilcoxhealth.org.

The union says the main issue is the lack of a system to regulate patient-to-nurse ratios to better protect patients.