Hawaii House Bill HR28

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/28/25
• Refer: 3/14/25

Caption

Urging The Legislative Reference Bureau To Conduct A Study On The Economic, Social, And Fiscal Impact Of The Kapiolani Hospital Nurses Strike And Lockout To The State.

Impact

The requested study is expected to provide valuable insights into the broader implications of the nurses' strike and lockout, particularly in regard to the costs incurred by the state and the effects on community health services. As there were more than 600 nurses involved, the findings will also assess how these labor disputes affect patient care levels and safety. Additionally, it will explore the financial impact on families and the state due to the disruption of services and the potential increase in costs for temporary staffing solutions.

Summary

House Resolution 28 urges the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a comprehensive study on the economic, social, and fiscal implications of the strike and subsequent lockout of nurses at Kapiolani Medical Center. This resolution arises in the context of labor disputes within the healthcare sector, particularly focusing on the circumstances leading up to the strike, which included reports of understaffing and excessive workloads for nurses. The lockout lasted for 22 days and resulted in significant disruption in medical care and staffing practices as traveling nurses were brought in to address the staffing gap.

Contention

This resolution highlights notable concerns regarding the work conditions faced by nurses in Hawaii. During discussions leading to the strike, numerous issues were raised regarding the assignment of patients per nurse, which contributed to the feeling of burnout and inadequacy in care provision. The resolution proposes to clarify and document these contentious points, thereby fostering a better understanding of the challenges within the healthcare labor dynamics in Hawaii, ultimately paving the way for potential policy recommendations to improve working conditions for healthcare professionals.