Potential Nurses Mobilize for Possible Strike at Waimea Medical Center
Nurses at Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital Threaten Strike Over Staffing Ratio Dispute
Nurses at Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital (QNHCH) in Waimea are pushing for fair nurse-to-patient ratios as part of their ongoing labor negotiations. A majority of 100 nurses have voted in favor of striking for three days if contract negotiations continue to fall short, with a deadline set for August 21, 2025.
The nurses' main concerns revolve around safe patient ratios, equitable healthcare, and wages to attract and retain nurses. If the hospital fails to meet these demands by the deadline, the nurses plan to file bad-faith bargaining charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
This escalation comes amidst ongoing disputes, with the Hawaii Nurses Association (HNA) having filed 20 grievances against Queen's Medical Center, indicating unresolved issues despite a prior signed agreement.
The nurses' demands for fair staffing ratios are not new. Earlier efforts included a two-hour demonstration on May 17 and a petition with over 700 signatures presented on June 25. Nurse Steven Offenbaker, who works in the emergency room, urges Queen's CEO Jason Chang and QNHCH President Stephany Vaioleti to participate in negotiations.
Contract negotiations between the hospital and the nurses' union began in mid-December of last year, with the nurses' current contract expiring at the end of March. Vega, a nurse representative, has been calling on the top administrators to come to negotiations, and a productive discussion is expected on Thursday, August 14.
However, the nurses may choose to begin the strike before the next negotiation session. A longer strike than three days would require a new vote, and a longer strike has not yet been considered.
Vaioleti, the QNHCH President, pledges to bargain in good faith to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. The top priority of Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital remains the uninterrupted delivery of high-quality, safe patient care.
In addition to staffing ratios, the nurses are concerned that their wages and benefits fall short of what nurses at the two Queen's hospitals on Oahu receive. This issue adds another layer of complexity to the negotiations.
As of now, no strike has been confirmed. However, the pressure from the nursing staff and union is intensifying due to unresolved negotiations. The community will be closely watching the developments in the coming weeks.
[1] Hawaii Tribune-Herald. (2025, July 28). Nurses vote to strike if staffing ratios not met. Retrieved from https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2025/07/28/nurses-vote-to-strike-if-staffing-ratios-not-met/
[2] Hawaii Public Radio. (2025, July 28). Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital nurses threaten strike over staffing ratio dispute. Retrieved from https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/posts/2025/07/28/queens-north-hawaii-community-hospital-nurses-threaten-strike-over-staffing-ratio-dispute/
The community is closely monitoring the escalating dispute between the nurses at Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital and hospital management over fair nurse-to-patient ratios and equitable healthcare, as the deadlines for contract negotiations approach. While the nurses have expressed concerns about their wages and benefits not being on par with those at Queen's hospitals on Oahu, their main focus remains on the science of maintaining safe staffing ratios to ensure the wellness and health of their patients.
