Striking Moloka'i nurses to vote on offers tomorrow

By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor

Nurses at Moloka'i General Hospital are expected to vote tomorrow on a possible settlement to their month-old strike over pay raises.

Five of the hospital's six registered nurses walked off the job May 12.

The Hawai'i Nurses Association executive director, Nancy McGuckin, said yesterday that Honolulu-based Queen's Health Systems, which operates the 30-bed hospital, has provided the Moloka'i nurses with "a couple of options" that they will consider tomorrow, possibly ending the walkout.

She would not elaborate. Officials from the hospital and the Queen's Health Systems were unavailable to comment last night.

Hospital administrators and representatives of the Hawai'i Nurses Association met with a federal mediator Friday in Honolulu. The nurses association earlier said the Moloka'i nurses were offered a one-time $350 bonus along with 1 percent pay raises in October, April and October 2002 if they would agree to extend the contract through April 2003.

Nurses objected, McGuckin said, because they would have to wait almost two years before discussing work conditions and other concerns.

The registered nurses have not received a pay increase in more than three years. They are the lowest paid in the state, making $25.10 an hour, or about $3 less than their counterparts at the Queen's Medical Center.

Administrators say the Moloka'i facility, the only general hospital on the island, loses more than $2 million a year while relying on state subsidies.