The Queen’s Health System nurses’ union said it was disappointed with the progress of negotiations on a new contract with hospital management.
The Hawaii Nurses’ Association, which represents nearly 2,000 nurses at the Queen’s Punchbowl and West Oahu campuses, said in a news release Friday that in-person meetings with management next week are in limbo.
HNA said the negotiating sessions were scheduled in person on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Blaisdell Center, but claimed Queen’s failed to deliver on its promise. HNA said the union paid to secure space at the Blaisdell for the first day, but was unsure whether Queen’s was maintaining its agreement to pay for the second day.
“The nurses have always participated virtually in the past negotiation sessions and looked forward to the in-person meetings,” HNA President Rose Agas-Yuu said in the news release. “We are disappointed but not surprised by the broken promises, lack of clarity and transparency, and poor communication and follow-through that are so typical of Queen’s. This is what nurses have to deal with every day.”
Queen’s responded in a statement that it “remains committed to good faith negotiations with the union and stands ready to meet,” but did not say whether that would happen in person.
Queen executives said they offered HNA an enhanced package deal that would make its nurses among the highest paid in the state, along with workplace and quality of life improvements.
“We remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached with HNA during our negotiating sessions next week,” Queen officials said. “We look forward to continuing our positive momentum and reaching an agreement that respects our nurses and their profession, promotes superior patient care for our community, provides competitive pay and is sustainable for our organization.”
The two sides have held collective bargaining sessions twice a week since April 9. HNA’s contract with Queen’s expires on June 30.
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