HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hundreds of workers from Kapiolani Medical Center are planning to strike.
The Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers, Local 96, announced the strike, who represent approximately 300 technicians, service workers and housekeeping at Kapiolani.
The union said the strike will begin on Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 a.m., seven days a week, 24 hours a day with no specified end date.
The union added that they have been trying to negotiate a contract that ensures fair, livable wages, protections against excessive overtime and job security.
The hospital said the center will remain open and will continue providing care to patients with a temporary workforce to fill the positions during the strike.
“While we are disappointed by the decision, providing excellent care for our community remains our focus. As a highly specialized medical center, Kapiolani plans and prepares for a wide range of situations to ensure continuous care for Hawai‘i’s women and children. We want to reassure our patients and the community that our programs and services will not be interrupted. We continue to work toward reaching an agreement soon,” said Gidget Ruscetta, Chief Operating Officer for Kapiolani Medical Center, in a statement.
The union said that they did not make this decision lightly and understand the risks involved, but all service workers deserve “respect, safety, and dignity on the job.”
They added that the union remains open to productive talks up until the strike and beyond.