Wahiawa nurses set to strike
By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer
Barring a last-minute negotiations breakthrough, nurses at Wahiawa General Hospital are expected to go on strike at 7 a.m. today.
As of last night, the union had not heard from hospital management about returning to the bargaining table. The two sides last met with a federal mediator on Wednesday, but negotiations ended when the hospital rejected a proposal from the union, said Sue Scheider, collective bargaining director for the Hawai'i Nurses Association, which represents the nurses.
Richard Aea, a human resources manager and spokesman for the hospital, said he could not comment on the matter.
Hospital officials have asked managers to man the facility while the nurses are on strike, said Randy Pisani, a nurse negotiator and recovery room nurse. The 162-bed facility is the only 24-hour primary and emergency care medical facility between 'Ewa and Kahuku.
Negotiations began with about 65 nurses on staff, but at least three have since resigned, Pisani said.
A Wahiawa home-turned-bustling headquarters was filled yesterday with dozens of nurses making signs in preparation for a strike today.
The nurses stopped by the headquarters between noon and 4 p.m. to work on signs and to have questions about a strike addressed, Scheider said.
Scheider said the nurses' contract concerns are mostly about benefits.
"We have been about together on the wage increases, but there are certain benefits that we're still struggling over," she said. Such benefit issues include longevity steps, health insurance and access to retiree medical coverage.
Wahiawa nurses are paid about $28.60 an hour, compared with nurses who make at least $30.89 an hour at Kaiser Permanente, Kapi'olani and The Queen's medical centers and Straub Clinic & Hospital, Scheider said.
Any proposed wage increases have been partially offset by management plans to increase nurses' share of healthcare costs, Scheider said.
"We don't want to walk, but we're here to stand up for what we believe in," said registered nurse Ella Siroskey, who was at the headquarters yesterday.
"When we went to our last negotiation Wednesday, people came with toothbrushes, pillows and sleeping bags and the thought was if it took from Wednesday to Monday morning at 6:59 a.m., we would stay there to negotiate," Pisani said.
Ambulatory surgery nurse Lariza Bush also spent the weekend at the headquarters to prepare.
"I'm very disappointed and saddened by this whole negotiation process," Bush said.
Dozens of still-wet signs were scattered throughout tables and folding chairs at the makeshift headquarters. Some of the signs read: "Honk if you love nurses," "Every patient deserves a nurse" and "RN equals quality care."
Reach Zenaida Serrano Espanol at zespanol@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8174.
