‘Horrifying news’ reported at Maui hospital during three-day strike by health workers

MAUI COUNTY, Hawai’i (Island News) – Hundreds of health care workers in Maui and Lana’i returned to work Thursday morning after a three-day strike.

While employees were excited to get back to work, some said they were disappointed to hear about Maui Memorial Medical Center’s performance when they went to vote.

Hospital managers said before the strike they would hire part-time workers to cover those leaving, but CT specialist and union chairman Matthew Pelc said he had heard “horror stories” from doctors within days. three of which the workers of the organizations were not present.

“It’s sad to hear that but we’re excited to get back out there,” Pelc added.

One of the stories reported involved an outpatient who was at the center on Tuesday, the second day of the strike. Pelc said the man needed tests, but he was dismissed because the hospital staff was too busy at the time, which Pelc said he has not had to do.

“That patient had to come back today, we had to start another IV to get him checked out. So it’s just weird, something like that… happened when they (the hospital) We are fully prepared for anything that may come, but they could not even treat outpatients, which are our most vulnerable patients,” Pelc criticized.

Pelc also said it was told there was a delay of several hours for the pictures to be taken.

“Our doctors told us that they felt uncomfortable with those nurses. They didn’t know who they were with, what kind of experience they had and they didn’t feel like they were ready. ,” Pelc revealed.

According to Pelc, the hospital contracted hundreds of short-term nurses, paid them generously and placed them at the Grand Wailea Resort.

Additionally, Pelc reported that the hospital has an adequate staffing base, which Pelc and other union members have been questioning.

Hundreds of health care workers at Maui Memorial, Kula Hospital and Lana’i Community Hospital decided to participate in a three-day strike, after nearly four months of demanding lower wages. battery and additional staff. Reported staff shortages lead to staff burnout and poor patient care, Pelc and the union reported.

There is a proposal to raise wages by 18% over four years, but workers say nothing has been done about hiring workers.

“I don’t know how many times we have to tell them, there is not much money that will get this agreement. They need to deal with the workers,” Pelc insisted.

When asked if union workers would consider another strike if there were problems, Pelc said he would not rule out that option.

Discussions will continue next week and again next month.

Maui Health released the following statement:

Maui Memorial Medical Center was overstaffed.

Union members’ decision to withdraw does not change our commitment to our patients, residents and community. To ensure consistent safe, quality care during a strike, we have brought in a team of highly qualified, highly experienced professionals to work with our dedicated team members.

It is very disappointing that the Union is trying to tell a false story that misrepresents our hospital and the care their colleagues provide. This bargaining strategy is clearly intended to stifle negotiations but instead creates unnecessary anxiety for members of our community and incites discord among our employees on both sides. a trick.

Despite this vicious Union campaign to divide our employees and the community, we continue to focus on what unites us: our shared goal of providing exceptional care to our community. We believe that the best place to resolve our differences and reach an agreement is at the negotiating table and we reaffirm our commitment to negotiate in good faith to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. We encourage the union to return to the table with a willingness to negotiate and reach an agreement that will benefit all concerned.

“We have met with our leadership of the medical staff twice a day, every day, during the strike to make sure we hear any concerns or questions. Any issues that arose, mostly unrelated to the strike, were escalated and resolved in a timely manner. Most of what we saw was the same as what a hospital would see every time a normal surgery was performed. The nurses were very competent and did a great job. Our staff, medical staff and patients were very happy with the care they received, and I am very grateful to the team that was there during the strike for their commitment to our community. -Dr. Michael Shea, Chief Medical Officer, Maui Health

“It is important to clarify what the Union is really asking for in terms of labor guidelines. We have been working with UNAC as part of negotiating a collaborative approach to a general labor policy that includes these guidelines, many of which the Union itself has acknowledged are already in place, along with an acuity tool and a strong nursing staff committee allow for adjustments based on the needs of our patients and staff.Flexibility is necessary to ensure that all patients will be able to receive safe, quality and timely care.

On the other hand, what UNAC is asking for is to introduce a strict order that orders workers based on numbers only; their proposed model does not consider other important factors for safe patient care. These factors include but are not limited to how sick the patient is, the level of care or attention the patient needs (for example, is it minutes to discharge or recent surgery) or the presence of other staff, including ready-made specialist nurses. to assist with emergency response needs, charge nurses and paramedics. What they are asking for can restrict flexibility in the workforce. Ordered, fixed units can limit our ability to accommodate sudden increases in patient volume, which can cause delays in care, disruption of services and may force us to turn away patients. The union is trying to force an order on Maui Health that does not operate here in Hawaii and that the state does not order other hospitals. ” – Marian Horikawa-Barth, Senior Nurse Practitioner, Maui Health