HONOLULU (KHON2) — Nurses at The Queen’s Medical Center are celebrating a huge victory after ratifying a tentative agreement to secure a three-year contract.
On Sunday, Jan. 12, nearly 2,000 nurses from Queen’s West Oahu and Punchbowl campuses were “fully prepared” to go on strike.
The nurses had been working without a contract since June 30 and were set to strike over unfair labor practices.
After more than 40 hours of mediation, Queen’s Medical Center and the Hawaii Nurses’ Association reached a tentative agreement just hours before their strike call at 7 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 13.
The new contract runs from Wednesday, Jan. 15 through Jan. 14, 2028, and will allow enforceable staffing ratios to ensure quality care for patients is a priority.
This has been a long, nine-month battle for patient safety, and the nurses now can have peace of mind that quality care will be a priority at Queen’s. The nurses feel much more confident that patients will receive the attention and care they deserve when they are admitted to Queen’s.
Rosalee Agas-Yuu, HNA president
Additionally, the contract features a nearly 17% wage increase.
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Agas-Yuu added HNA is thrilled about the ratification for Oahu patients. As for Wilcox Medical Center, nurses will begin their third day of the strike on Thursday, Jan. 16.