HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Wilcox nursing strike in Day 14
Advertiser Staff
The strike by Wilcox Hospital's nursing staff enters its 14th day today with no movement on either side and no talks scheduled between the parties, although nurses are asking for a meeting.
The Hawai'i Nurses Association launched its strike June 24, citing concerns about adequate staffing and patient safety. The 71-bed Wilcox Hospital brought in contract nurses from the Mainland to continue to provide all hospital services.
"The Hawai'i Nurses Association has contacted the (federal) mediator and is demanding to speak to the employer," said nurses' attorney Jon Carroll. "We received a call this morning informing us that the employer hasn't decided yet.
"We'd like to meet at the very least and do a status check. It seems as if the employer is taking the tack of waiting us out," he said.
Hospital representative Lani Yukimura confirmed there is activity toward reopening negotiations.
"We are in discussions with the federal mediator, but no date for a meeting has been set," Yukimura said.
Hospital functions are operating normally, Yukimura said.
EAST HONOLULU
WARD SEEKING 17TH DISTRICT SEAT
Former state Rep. Gene Ward yesterday said he will run for the state House 17th District (Hawai'i Kai, Kalama Valley) and launch a petition drive to block construction of 180 vacation cabins on the land near the Hawai'i Kai Golf Course.
Ward, who served in the Legislature during 1990-98, recently returned from East Timor, where he was a Peace Corps country director. The incumbent in the 17th District, Rep. William Stonebraker, has said he will not seek re-election.
STATE
UNIONS PUSH FOR VETO SESSION
Union leaders have asked the state House and Senate to hold a special session next week to override potential vetoes by Gov. Linda Lingle.
In a letter dated Wednesday, union leaders said the 28 bills on Lingle's potential veto list "reflect a lot of hard work, but more important, are reflective of the philosophy that Democrats must uphold."
Several of the bills identified by the governor are important to labor. House and Senate leaders said yesterday they have not decided whether to come back.
Lingle has until Tuesday to make her veto decisions. She said in a statement yesterday in response to the union letter that lawmakers should "put public interest before party."
The letter was signed by the leaders of the Hawai'i Government Employees Association, the United Public Workers union, the Hawai'i State AFL-CIO, the Hawai'i Carpenters Union, and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.
