Kapiolani Medical Center nurses ratify new 3-year contract, ending weekslong lockout

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - After more than a year of negotiations, Kapiolani Medical Center’s 600 union nurses have officially agreed to a new three-year contract which became effective Wednesday.

The agreement comes after more than a year of negotiating, two strikes, and an 18-day lockout.

The Hawaii Nurses Association said that the nurses wanted to return to work as soon as possible, but Kapiolani said the earliest they could return is Sunday.

Kapiolani Medical Center’s 600 nurses wrapped up voting on their hard-fought contract proposal on Wednesday evening with 98% voting in favor of ratification.

Both sides say they agreed on improving nurse-to-patient ratios and flexible staffing levels.

The agreement includes:

• Across-the-board raises that average out to 3.5% annually over nearly four years.
• Longevity pay increases for registered nurses who have 5, 10 and 15 years of experience at Kapiolani.
• A staffing matrix which includes flexible staffing levels. Guidelines within the staffing matrix provide the ability to flex and adjust staffing based on a patient’s medical conditions and needs.
• The agreed upon staffing guidelines are evidence-based and align with national professional nursing organizations, including the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), American Nurses Association (ANA), American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN), Association of peri, Operative Registered Nurses (AORN)
• A Staffing Council made up of Kapiolani nurses and nurse leaders that will meet monthly to work together on any staffing issues and will review the staffing matrix annually.
• An innovative staffing and acuity tool that helps determine scheduling needs for each unit based on the constantly changing health care needs of patients.
• A commitment to ongoing recruitment and retention programs aimed at bringing in new nurses and providing support for current nurses.

“We are pleased our nurses voted in favor of this contract,” said Gidget Ruscetta, chief operating officer of Kapiolani Medical Center. “Fixed ratios are not the answer. As a result of our collaborative efforts in negotiations, our nurses will now be a part of the staffing process so we can all work together to adjust to our patients’ needs. With these agreed-upon flexible staffing levels, we can focus on our patients and the ever-changing needs in our medical center.”

“This has been an emotional process for all of us at Kapiolani, and we are ready to move forward, together.” Ruscetta said.

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