Posted on: Friday, January 3, 2003
Talks resume in nurse strike
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer
Negotiators for striking nurses and for The Queen's Medical Center met with federal mediators all day yesterday and were still meeting last night.
Bill Richter, a negotiator for the Hawai'i Nurses' Association who is also an emergency room nurse, said most of the day was spent reviewing the benefits plan being proposed. The meeting began at 10 a.m.
Queen's, the state's largest hospital, has had about 800 nurses on strike for the past month. Another 340 nurses are walking the picket line at St. Francis Medical Center, and 200 more at Kuakini Medical Center.
Talks are scheduled to resume today at 10:30 a.m. between St. Francis officials and union leaders for the first time in more than a month, according to hospital spokeswoman Maggie Jarrett. Kuakini spokeswoman Donda Spiker said their negotiations with the nurses are set for 10 a.m. Monday.
The almost 1,400 nurses at the three hospitals walked off the job at the beginning of December in a dispute that centers on staffing levels, paid time off, retirement benefits and salaries.
Hospital officials this week said that about 107 workers have crossed the picket lines to return to work.
Richter said the union's consultant compared and contrasted the benefits being proposed with those currently in place.
"That required a bit of effort and time so that we could evaluate which would be a better plan," he said.
Richter said the union received the latest proposals from the Queen's administration yesterday afternoon. He said he was hopeful that the talks would be productive.
"I'm always optimistic. They invited us back, and there's some movement, Richter said.
Queen's spokeswoman Lynn Kenton expressed hope that an agreement would be reached.
Kenton noted that striking nurses must now pay the full cost of their health premiums if they want to continue their benefits. Last month, the employer share of benefits was paid before the strike began, she said.
"We're concerned about the nurses' benefits," Kenton said. "We're really feeling positive that an agreement will be reached."
Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.
