Unionized hospital workers rallying yesterday in front of Kaiser Permanente's Moanalua Medical Center said the company wants to keep subcontracting as an option. But workers want some assurance of job security.

“;I don't want any raise, but I want to protect my job,”; said rally participant Michelle Espiritu, 34, a medical assistant. “;I love my patients. I love my job. I want to secure my job for myself and my children.”;

About 150 workers joined by other Local 5 members rallied during the afternoon rush hour to call attention to their dissatisfaction with the way contract negotiations are going.

Local 5 represents 1,800 health care workers employed by Kaiser at 21 facilities statewide. It includes licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, cafeteria workers, transporters, cashiers, clerks and accounting personnel.

Protesters blocked entries and exits to the hospital for several minutes, sitting in the driveway, but police said they did not arrest anyone since the demonstrators got up after they were warned.

Union spokeswoman Joyce Griffin, 52, an insurance billing representative, said Kaiser Permanente told the Local 5 union that it wants “;to subcontract the work, taking it off this island, not because they want to, but just because they want the flexibility. They can just eliminate work when they want to.”;

“;We're hoping this rally will bring the company to its senses and treat us with respect,”; Griffin said.

Suzann Filleuel, a regional nurse executive with Kaiser Permanente, said the company has been negotiating in good faith and has offered pay increases that will keep employees in the “;top tier of the Hawaii health care market.”;

She said, “;In 2009 when the economy was just tough, Kaiser was able to preserve our staff jobs.”;

She said membership is increasing, so more jobs will be created.

Griffin said Kaiser Permanente has given 7 and 8 percent raises in California, 4 percent raises to nurses in Hawaii, “;and they want to give us 2 percent. ... It's been nothing but lies at the table, nothing but bad-faith bargaining.”;

Kaiser spokeswoman Lynn Kenton said the company has continued to negotiate and has offered two 2 percent raises for the majority of workers in 2010 in January and July, plus a 1 percent bonus. Surgical technicians would receive two 7 percent raises. Both groups would receive additional modest raises in 2011 and 2012.

The union also contends Kaiser Permanente has not given them a hard copy of a report concerning asbestos work done at the hospital, including air quality information.

Kaiser, however, says it has given the union access to the documents, allowing it to review it in its office, calling the asbestos issue a tactic brought forward by the union.