Members of the United Nurses and Health Care Employees of Hawaii, a local chapter of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals, have approved a new labor contract with Maui Health in Hawaii.
The ratification of the four-year agreement was announced by both parties on Jan. 6. It covers about 950 Maui Health employees, including nurses, technicians, and administrative and support staff at hospitals and clinics on Maui and Lanai.
According to the health system and union, the agreement includes an across-the-board pay increase of 21% over the life of the contract and a one-time ratification bonus for all union members.
It also includes:
- Additional wage adjustments for individual job classifications, longevity pay, preceptor, educational, and other pay differentials.
- A staffing matrix that includes flexible staffing levels and evidence-based guidelines.
- An expanded registered nurse staffing committee role and a system for elevating and addressing staffing concerns.
"Our members fought hard, with a lot of public support, and we won a historic contract," Matt Pelc, chair of the United Nurses and Health Care Employees of Hawaii, said in a news release. "We won a comprehensive plan to develop staffing ratios and have them enforceable through our contract — a system specific to our hospital that will make Maui Health a safe place to be a patient.
"We also won life-changing money for our lowest-paid members, so they'll no longer have to work a second job, will have more time with their families, and we can keep families together here on Maui."
Maui Health CEO Lynn Fulton said in a separate news release:
"I want to recognize the tremendous work of both bargaining teams to bring this to fruition and reach an agreement that affords competitive compensation to all job classifications represented across the bargaining unit. Our nurses and nurse leaders will continue to collaborate on staffing plans that are dynamic and flexible, ensuring that we can continue to provide exceptional health care to our community.
"We are also incredibly grateful to our Employee Labor Relations team and all of our Maui Health employees and medical staff who work hard to ensure exceptional care and service for our patients, residents, and communities we serve on Maui and Lanai."