Vehicle Parade Planned as Maui Health Negotiations Continue

A vehicle parade is planned for this afternoon to recognize the sacrifices of Maui Health System employees.

“Now we’re negotiating with MHS for a contract that values our sacrifices by bringing wages of the lowest-paid workers closer to community standards, addressing wage inequities in the system, and seeking to retain the experienced health caregivers needed to provide the safest patient care,” according to event organizers.

The event is being organized by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) which represents more than 32,000 registered nurses and other health care professionals in California and Hawaiʻi.

The group also seeks to retain experienced caregivers saying the turnover rate for RN classifications was 20 percent between 2018 and 2020, over the normal rate of 9-12 percent. 

Maui Health responded to Maui Now’s request for comment saying they have been in “good faith negotiations” for several months to renew the contract.

“Negotiations are still actively underway with a mutually agreed upon contract extension through April 2021. Tentative agreements are in place, but there are additional issues to be discussed and agreed upon, which we will continue to do so with planned negotiations later this week,” according to Maui Health.

“Maui Health remains optimistic that a fair and equitable agreement will be reached soon,” a spokesperson said.

In addition to nurses UNAC/UHCP’s representation includes optometrists; pharmacists; physical, occupational and speech therapists; case managers; nurse midwives; social workers; clinical lab scientists; physician assistants and nurse practitioners.