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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, July 16, 2003

Wahiawa nurses' deal ends strike

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

The union representing striking nurses and Wahiawa General Hospital reached a tentative contract agreement last night, signaling an end to the walkout that began May 5.

The settlement was reached at 7:30 p.m., about 10 hours after the two sides went back to the bargaining table at the Hawai'i Employers Council. A ratification vote is scheduled for tomorrow. Nurses would begin returning to work on Sunday.

"It's a relief to finally have it over," said nurse Randy Pasani.

The two sides continued to negotiate last night on a return-to-work agreement that clarifies issues such as when health benefits would resume and what happens to seniority and vacation.

Hospital spokesman Richard Aea declined to comment last night, saying, "there's still some details to be worked out."

The tentative deal calls for wage increases of 19 percent over three years, said Sue Scheider, head of collective bargaining for the Hawai'i Nurses Association. Wahiawa nurses now earn $28.60 an hour.

The contract also limits mandatory overtime, preserves the health insurance premium, and addresses health and safety issues, Scheider said. For the first time, she said, a longevity step was included in the contract to reward nurses with at least 10 years of service an additional $1 an hour.

"Overall we're very pleased," Scheider said. "The nurses were able to achieve what they went out on strike for."

One issue that was not resolved was the pension plan. Scheider said management and the nurses would continue to negotiate over the next three months. If no agreement is reached, the hospital can reopen the contract in April 2004. Nurses could then then strike again, or the two sides could agree to turn the matter over to an independent arbitrator, Scheider said.

Another matter that was not resolved last night was how many nurses would be returning to work. When the strike began, 65 nurses were covered by the contract, but Scheider said about half have since found permanent work.

She said Wahiawa's rural location made it difficult to recruit nurses, who must be generalists rather than specializing in any single area.

The tentative agreement marks an end to a turbulent year for O'ahu hospitals. In December, nearly 1,400 nurses at three major hospitals — St. Francis, Kuakini and Queen's — went on strike for about six weeks.

The 162-bed Wahiawa General Hospital is the only 24-hour primary and emergency care medical facility between 'Ewa and Kahuku.