Nurses at Wilcox Medical Center begin 3-day strike

This story was updated at 9:08 a.m. Jan. 14.

Wilcox Medical Center nurses began a 3-day strike this morning after negotiations with the hospital ended Monday night without an agreement.

Nurses represented by the Hawai‘i Nurses Association are disappointed the Hawaiʻi Pacific Health hospital refused to staff the Wilcox medical and surgical units at the same rates as its facilities on O‘ahu.

They think Kauaʻi residents deserve that same standard of care, according to Nathan Hokuma, spokesperson for the Hawaiʻi Nurses Association.

Several labor practice complaints have also been filed by the nurses union against Wilcox with the National Labor Relations Board.

The three-day strike began at 7 a.m. today and will continue until 6:59 a.m. Friday.

Nurses will return to work after it ends.

“The union’s decision to strike is very disappointing,” said Jen Chahanovich, president and CEO of Wilcox Medical Center, in a statement.

Chahanovich added that Wilcox Medical Center remains open will continue to provide care for its patients and the people of Kaua‘i — “it’s our responsibility and commitment to our community.”

The hospital is fully staffed with a temporary workforce of experienced nurses.

The Hawaiʻi Nurses Association has been in negotiations with Wilcox Medical Center leadership throughout the past four days and nights with a federal mediator, but could not come to an agreement as of 9 p.m. Monday.

“We are still willing to negotiate in person every day for as long as it takes,” Chahanovich said her statement. “We care for our nurses and value the role they serve on our team at Wilcox,”

Rosalee Agas-Yuu, president of the Hawai‘I Nurses Association, reiterated in a statement Tuesday morning after the strike began that patients on Kaua‘i deserve the same standard of care as those on O‘ahu.

The nurses want to end that double-standard, yet under Wilcox management’s proposals, nurses in the hospital’s main medical-surgical department would continue to take care of six patients at a time, giving them just 10 minutes per hour for each patient.

“This unsafe staffing compromises the quality of care for patients,” said Agas-Yuu.

Kapi‘olani nurses take care of four or five patients at a time, giving them 12 to 15 minutes per patient — and that extra 2 to 5 minutes per patient could save lives.

“This is what the nurses are fighting for and why they are willing to go on strike,” Agas-Yuu added. “Wilcox Medical Center patients deserve the best care, and the nurses have offered to continue negotiating throughout the 3-day strike.”