Posted at 8:45 a.m., Monday, June 4, 2001

Molokai nurses continue strike

KAUNAKAKAI, Molokai — A strike by the six nurses at Molokai General Hospital has entered its fourth week.

Union and management officials are scheduled to meet again on Friday but hope the meeting can be held sooner.

Hospital director of nursing Mary Bonifacio said negotiators are waiting for a federal mediator and hope that a meeting can be arranged before Friday.

Hawaii Nurses Association executive director Nancy McGuckin said it is "very disturbing" that the nurses are still on the picket line. The strike began May 12.

McGuckin said the nurses have been offered a one-time $350 bonus along with 1 percent pay raises in October, next April and in October 2002 if they agree to extend the contract through April 2003.

McGuckin says nurses object because they would have to put off for almost two years discussions about what they consider to be critical concerns — staffing, scheduling and patient safety issues.

"That's a big part of what this is all about," said McGuckin.

The 30-bed hospital, the only acute care clinic and emergency room on Molokai, is operated by Honolulu-based Queen's Health Systems.