Insulting and Inadequate Wage Offer From Employer Angers Nurses
The Employer came to the bargaining table today and made their wage proposal.
The employer proposed the following:
2 year contract (contract is usually 3 years)
4% in year 1
3% in year 2
Our wage proposal moves away from the longevity model and moves to a step wage grid that rewards years of experience as a nurse…management said they are not interested.
Queen’s completely ignored our differential proposal, but did offer a $5 per hour differential for permanent charge nurses only.
According to Queen’s, these are the rationale behind their egregious offer:
To see their full presentation, CLICK HERE.
This wage proposal will not uplift us to wages that even break even for inflation in Hawaii. It’s insulting and completely ignores the fact that we already have inadequate staff and high turnover. This proposal does nothing to address that.
Close to a hundred nurses joined our bargaining today on very short notice after management surprised us with their wage proposal. Nurse observers to bargaining had the following to say about what they heard today:
“Our employer’s wage proposal shows they do not value us nor the many years we’ve given them.” - Riri Anguay-Samson
“[Management's] offer was insulting and reflects just how much they value us. We are getting a pay cut considering inflation.” - Liz Fukada, Surge Unit P6
“How many patients will suffer complications or worse due to the short staffing this offer will create?”- Nicholas Seaman
“[Management] emphasizes the good pay, but at the current pay, you have to work overtime to make an OK wage.”- Sarah Taylor
“It makes no sense [for management] to make a point that most RN hires are from Hawaii/local and [therefore] not pay them more. Are they saying if it was more out-of state hires, they would pay them more?” - Ariel Johnson
What do you think of this proposal? Share your thoughts below!
Come to bargaining tomorrow to hear more about management’s rationale for this low wage offer. Click here or check our HNA-Queens LinkTree
We have confirmed in-person bargaining with Queens on June 25 & 26 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. We need as many nurses as possible to come show your unity. Reach out to your OAT member for more information.
Based on the PP presentation, I believe the turnover rate is low because why would people leave the highest paying organization in a place where the cost of living is astronomical. They are exploiting this. But based on the cost of living index and salary (https://www.usa.edu/blog/the-best-states-for-nurses/), it looks like we are dead last. I would like to know how many of the 7.2% left the islands for the mainland. This would show if Queens is part of the problem concerning locals being priced out of paradise. Maybe management should ask staff about their SDOH.
I work both at Queens and in the Bay Area at a hospital mentioned yesterday as call in/per diem each month. Even though the nurses in the Bay make over $200k a family of 4 still can’t afford to buy a house in the area. Similar with Honolulu - Queens nurses need to have a much higher dual income with a partner if they wish to be able to afford to buy, live and raise a family within 20-30 minutes of the hospital. A measly Queens income now does not cut it at all!