In Case You Missed It #ICYMI

By Dan Collins

Health Care Workers End Strike

Health care workers belonging to the United Public Workers voted to ratify a new three-year contract on April 14, marking the end of a strike that had sent nearly 500 union members walking Feb. 22, nearly two months earlier. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of ending the strike, with 237 voting for the new contract and 35 opposed.

The union represents nurses’ aides, respiratory therapists, housekeepers, cooks and other workers at Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital and Lāna‘i Community Hospital. Members had complained that new hires were getting paid more than existing employees and that some staffers were required to work three 16hour shifts in a row.

The new contract includes at least a 10.5 percent wage increase for all members, an undisclosed lump sum payment and new restrictions on overtime. UPW State Director Kalani Werner called the contract “reflective of the sacrifices our members have made during the strike.”

“We will do everything we can to ensure future contracts provide adequate pay increases, fair working conditions and demonstrate the importance of our workers,” said Werner.

Governor Signs Ethics Laws

In a move to improve ethics in government following the dual bribery convictions for former State Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English and former State Rep. Ty Cullen, Gov. Josh Green has signed seven anti-corruption bills recommended by the Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct

The bills “will allow even more sunshine into the executive and legislative branches of government,” Green said at a signing ceremony in April. The measures address concerns about fundraising, the reporting