Another group of RNs and Professionals has joined the Alliance! The Hawaii Nurses and Healthcare Professionals (HNHP) spent a year overcoming a series of hurdles to allow them to join the Alliance. This victory strengthens us as we prepare to bargain a year from now.
“With the Alliance in our corner, we are more ready than ever to forge ahead with bringing about the promises of transparency, education, member engagement, democracy, member rights, and patient safety that we all campaigned on,” said HNHP Interim President Maureen Meehan-Golonka.
The addition strengthens the solidarity and bargaining power of nurses and professionals across our regions. “Our members wanted to join the Alliance because it is the voice for nurses and professionals at KP. We want to be on the same bargaining team as the RNs in UNAC (SCAL), OFNHP (NW), Maui Health Systems, and UFCW (MAS, GA, CO),” explained Meehan-Golonka.
HNHP is a new union for 950 Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners and Respiratory Therapists.They were previously represented by an affiliate of the Coalition. In order to join the Alliance, they needed to first change their representation, and a grassroots team of Nurses and RTs won a hotly
contested election.
The HNHP victory strengthens the voice of nurses and professionals as we prepare for national bargaining one year from now. Joint scheduling, planning, and pre-bargaining meetings start this year. Another group of RNs and Professionals has joined the Alliance! The Hawaii Nurses and Healthcare Professionals (HNHP) spent a year overcoming a series of hurdles to allow them to join the Alliance. This victory strengthens us as we prepare to bargain a year from now.
The Alliance now represents 25,000 RN’s, NP’s, CRNA’s, Nurse Midwives, and other nurses at KP. The Alliance represents Registered Nurses in 6 out of 8 Kaiser regions, and other Healthcare Professionals in 7 of 8 Kaiser regions.
Our national unity within the Alliance gives us a unique opportunity to make progress on key issues like staffing, professional practice, quality care, patient safety, and scope of practice. With our growing strength, the Alliance is creating councils to connect frontline workers by occupation across KP. These councils — starting with our Alliance Nurse Council — will win improvements this year and build a campaign for a successful round of bargaining next year.
“I am excited to welcome HNHP to the Alliance. I know they fought long and hard for the opportunity to join the Alliance, and with their membership we are even stronger,” said Denise Duncan, President of UNAC/UHCP. “Together we are a strong national voice for patient care, safe staffing, and professional standards. Our national and local bargaining in 2021 will provide a tremendous opportunity to use the voice of nurses and caregivers to make improvements in these critical areas.”