QNHCH nurses agree to new contract

A proposed three-day nurses’ strike at Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital meant to begin Monday morning was averted when the nurses reached an agreement with the hospital on a three-year contract.

An “overwhelming majority” of the hospital’s 100 nurses voted to ratify an agreement presented to the nurses on Aug. 7 by the hospital’s management, according to a news release from the Hawaii Nurses’ Association.

The release said the ratification vote was confirmed at noon on Friday, at which time the nurses’ new three-year contract became effective.

The contract agreement concludes negotiations that have been ongoing since December 2024.

The nurses’ primary focus was to obtain better nurse-to-patient staffing ratios along with benefits and wages that QNHCH nurses sought to be more aligned with those of Queen’s two Oahu facilities in Punchbowl and Ewa Beach.

The ongoing negotiations left QNHCH nurses without a contract from March 2025 until last week’s ratification, the release said.

“This was an inspiring and historical victory,” said lead negotiator Mandy Vega of HNA, adding that the new contract “reflects the value and care these nurses provide to their community on a daily basis” and “will secure safe patient care and wages that will recruit and retain nurses.”

“We deeply value our nurses and the critical role they play in caring for our community,” said QNHCH president Stephany Vaioleti. “(We reached an) agreement that demonstrates our shared commitment to advance nursing practices and promote quality patient care for the North Hawaii community.”

Email Kyveli Diener at kdiener@hawaiitribune-herald.com.