10 arrested outside Hawaii hospital as labor dispute involving nurses escalates
A recently elected state lawmaker is among those who were arrested outside a Hawaii hospital
HONOLULU (AP) — Ten people, including a recently elected state lawmaker, were arrested Monday outside Hawaii’s only women’s and children’s hospital, where unionized nurses have been locked out since going on a one-day strike during contract negotiations.
Those arrested sat and blocked the driveway of Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children on Monday morning and refused to leave after officers issued warnings, Honolulu police spokesperson Sarah Yoro said in an email.
More than 600 nurses have been locked out since they went on a one-day strike earlier this month. Since then, nurses and supporters have been demonstrating and holding signs outside the hospital, which said it would continue to provide care with a temporary workforce.
The nurses want to see safer nurse-patient ratios, said Rosalee Agas-Yuu, president of the Hawaii Nurses Association. The contract expired last year.
