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1. HNA Welcomes Four New LRS's and Expands Facility Coverage
2. Queens Nurses New Contract Available
3. New Foundation to RESCUE Nurses Announced

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANNOUNCES FOUR NEW LRS's WITH EXPANDED FACILITY REPRESENTATION

Patt A. Gibbs, Esq., Executive Director, said, "Recent unforeseen changes in the LRS department has provided an opportune time to accelerate the Union's long-term plans to expand quality member services to HNA Nurse members." The Executive Director has expressed a continued need to improve services for each facility without compromising the overall quality of representation. To help achieve this goal, Gibbs has hired three additional full-time LRS’s and one part-time LRS, for a total of five full time LRS's and one LRS to be utilized as-needed.

The following individuals have joined HNA's LRS Staff Team: Bruce Hom, (will be returning to HNA), Jeff Morgan, Edward Spurlin and Susan M. French, Esq. (an IDC part-time LRS primarily assigned to Kaiser Permanente LMP Team and other facilities as needed).

Gibbs said, "After serving as HNA’s Executive Director for the past five months it is very clear that the core services of the Union need to be refocused on representation of the members, now that the majority of the Collective Bargaining Agreements have been ratified."

"HNA is operating on a 1992 dues income budget and without a needed dues increase, long-term service to members will continue to be affected," said Gibbs. The Executive Director’s original long-term plan was to assign two LRS’s to each HNA facility for better coverage of HNA Nurse members, however this was not possible due to HNA negotiations budget requirements. In the meantime, Gibbs has determined that LRS’s will be given team assignments for each facility. A primary and secondary LRS will be assigned to each facility to ensure optimum coverage.

Below is the listing of facilities and the LRS Primary and Secondary LRS Assignments:

LRS Contact Information:

Bruce Hom
c. 808-372-0552
ofc. 808-531-1628 x. 113
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tim Kawana
c. 808-561-5061
ofc. 808-531-1628 x. 114
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jeff Morgan
c. 808-372-1442
ofc. 808-531-1628 x. 151
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Irene Pu’uohau
c. 808-372-0255
ofc. 808-531-1628 x. 111
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Edward Spurlin
c. 808-351-5559
ofc. 808-531-1628 x. 158
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kaiser Representation
ofc. 808-531-1628 x. 153
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Notice to Queens Nurses: New Contract Available

Queens Medical Center Nurses can now access their new contract online. Hard copies of the contract will be distributed beginning May 15 at the HNA Nurse's Week table at Queens Medical Center. Download your contract here.

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HNA Unveils Plan for New Assistance Foundation: RESCUE

The Hawai'i Nurses' Association (HNA) honors all of Hawaii’s Nurses during National Nurse’s Week by action of the HNA Board of Directors plan to form a new non-profit foundation called RESCUE, a grassroots assistance program to be run by Nurses for Nurses. HNA will fund necessary start-up costs, and plans for development are currently under way. RESCUE is being established in memory of beloved nurses and colleagues who have passed on, by assisting HNA union members and other eligible RN’s in the State of Hawaii.

HNA Secretary Robin Tanner, RN, came up with the idea to name the new foundation, RESCUE, and explained, "Conceiving the perfect name for the program was easy because Nurses are always rescuing their patients and this new non-profit provides a way for Nurses to rescue each other when they need it most."

HNA Executive Director Patt A. Gibbs explained that RESCUE will be a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization formed and managed by volunteers. Support will be provided to eligible HNA union members and Nurses who apply and are in critical need of financial help due to serious illness, injury or disability. Assistance may also be available for other hardships resulting in financial need.

“Nurses are on the front lines, caring for their patients daily and are some of the most vulnerable when it comes to illness and injury. In fact, the incidence of injury is much higher than many other occupations,” Said HNA Vice President Joan Craft, RN. She said there are times when Nurses need to be cared for, too. “A foundation like RESCUE would create a huge safety net and in some cases, could provide a bridge to retirement,” she said.

Funds will be collected through various means including continued support from regular donations, special fundraising events, sales of specialty items, one-time or ongoing donations from Nurses or private parties or groups. “We expect the most significant funds to be raised through voluntary payroll deduction,” said HNA Treasurer Elayne Schwartz, RN. “Even a dollar per paycheck will help a lot, collectively.”  She said Nurses have always helped each other, but now there will be a way to help with tax-free dollars.

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