Health care workers across major Maui hospitals on strike

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hundreds of nurses and other healthcare workers at major hospitals on the neighboring islands went on strike Monday morning.
They are demanding safe staffing and higher wages to maintain staff.
Staff at Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital, and Lanai Community Hospital gathered to create picket signs over the weekend in preparation for their three-day strike.
The picketers say this comes after several failed negotiations with the hospitals.
“We gave them a proposal, and on Friday afternoon, they basically gave us that proposal back rejecting it, 100% rejection, and so we’re pretty frustrated; it’s a blatant disrespect of our time,” Maui Memorial Medical Center Nurse Melissa Robinson said.
Maui Health officials said they are currently offering an 18% wage hike over four years.
However, employees said their current offer does not address staffing levels, which is their main concern.
“Any amount of money they try to bribe us with is not going to be enough for us to put our licenses on the line and risk the community here. So, we told them from day one, we are not going to accept any contract that doesn’t address safe staffing throughout this hospital,” said Mathew Pelc, CT Tech and United Nurses and Health Care Employees of Hawaii Chair.
Union officials say every patient added to a nurse’s workload increases mortality rates by 7%.
“There’s a moral injury that’s caused from nurses when we can’t take care of our patient. I got into it to help people, and if we can’t help people because we don’t have the resources we need, it’s really hard to live with yourself,” said Maui Memorial Center Critical Care Nurse Josh Masslon. “You can throw so much money at that, but money’s not going to fix that, the moral injury.”
The strike is slated to end Thursday at 7 a.m.
For the next three days, Maui Health officials say they will continue care with help from a temporary workforce.
“Maui Health hospitals, emergency departments, and clinics are open and will remain open and operating as usual for the duration of the strike. We have comprehensive plans in place to ensure the best care for our patients, residents, and the communities we serve on Maui and Lanai, including a temporary workforce of experienced nurses and health care professionals who will work with the rest of our health care team, for as long as needed. Patients should not let strike activity deter them from seeking care.”
The next round of talks is set for November 14th.
Read Maui Health’s full statement here:
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