FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jeff Rogers | jeff.rogers@unacuhcp.org | 909-263-7230
MAUI – Most of the essential staff at Maui Memorial Medical Center in Wailuku, Maui; Kula Hospital; and Lanai Community Hospital will walk out for a three-day unfair labor practice strike on Monday morning, November 4, at 7 a.m. The strike ends when they return to work at 7 a.m. on Thursday morning, November 7.
BACKGROUND
The primary issues remain safe staffing and wages that can retain staff in Maui to care for Maui residents. The UNHCEH bargaining team have proposed the same staffing ratios that Kaiser agreed to in its contract with RNs in California. Studies show that for every patient added to a nurse’s workload, mortality rates increase by 7%.
On average, a ward clerk at Maui Memorial makes 19.66% less than the same classification down the street at a Kaiser clinic. Receptionists and lab assistants make nearly 20% less and a clinical coordinator 17.09% less. Turnover rates among ancillary staff at MMMC are 16.19% vs. only 7.3% at Kaiser’s other Hawaii hospitals and clinics.
A June 2024 study by the Hawaiʻi State Rural Health Association, “Maui Together,” indicates that 39% of medical professionals are contemplating moving to the Mainland. Another 40% are considering a reduction in hours, and 35% are thinking about leaving medicine altogether.
The strike will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 am – 7 pm at Maui Memorial; from 9 am – 2 pm at Kula Hospital, and from 9 am – 12 pm at Lanai Community Hospital. It will end at 7 am on Thursday at Maui Memorial when the day shift walks back into work.
LINKS TO NEWS COVERAGE
Hundreds of Maui healthcare workers set to strike Monday morning
KHON2, November 3, 2024
Maui News: Maui Health workers prepare for three-day strike with no agreement on patient-to-staff ratios
Hawaii News Now: Health care workers across major Maui hospitals go on strike
The Garden Island: Maui Health union workers to strike on Monday
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United Nurses and Health Care Employees of Hawaii (UNCHEH) represents 900 employees of Maui Health System on Maui and Lanai, including registered nurses, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, speech/language pathologists, MRI, imaging, and mammography technicians, financial counselors, admitting clerks, receptionists, and many more. UNHCEH is a chapter of UNAC/UHCP.
United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) represents more than 40,000 registered nurses and health care professionals in California and Hawaii, including optometrists; pharmacists; physical, occupational and speech therapists; case managers; nurse midwives; social workers; clinical lab scientists; physician assistants and nurse practitioners; hospital support and technical staff. UNAC/UHCP is affiliated with the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.