Effort to privatize state hospitals begged many questions

The United Public Workers consists of approximately 14,000 members who provide core services throughout our state.

UPW members are the men and women who operate our kids’ school cafeterias, collect the garbage from our homes, keep our wastewater treatment facilities running and provide care and maintenance at public health facilities, among dozens of other services.

Dr. Ali Bairos, chairman of the West Hawaii Regional Board of the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. (HHSC), made some very concerning remarks in a recent commentary ("Unions are the main reason state hospitals are broke," April 10, Star-Advertiser, Island Voices) that require context.

He stated that the unions and a "gutless Legislature" have made House Bill 1483 impotent — it would have allowed for the privatization of HHSC by Banner Health — but failed to mention why this bill was so drastically amended and why some interested parties might have had concerns.

The movement toward a takeover of Hilo, Kona and Maui facilities by Banner Health was hurtling forth at a speed that left many unanswered questions in its wake. During subsequent hearings on the privatization bills, it was unclear what services could be cut, how many staff would be let go, and whether this public-private partnership was financially feasible and in the best interest of the future of this state for more than the short term.

Further, there was a distinct lack of communication. We were first incidentally made aware of this situation just weeks before legislation to allow for privatization was introduced.

Staff working at HHSC facilities were also kept out of the loop. Would they be losing their jobs? Would they have to pack up their kids and move? These fears became pervasive and were exacerbated by the silence on the part of those pursuing this deal.

As for the issue of HHSC staff taking 75-80 percent of revenue, here is some context: The outer island facilities are based in communi- ties that rely disproportionately on Medicaid/Medicare and in which a larger health system is financially unviable. But there cannot be a void where there should be a hospital, so our state government built a safety-net health care system that would provide for the most vulnerable in our communities.

In short, compared to other highly profitable hospitals across the nation, staff wages take up a larger percentage of revenue precisely because their facilities generate so little.

It is also relevant to note that union members’ wages are indeed "relatively low" — compared to both private health care systems in Hawaii and health care systems on the mainland, where the cost of living is not as high.

HHSC staff work diligently at their wage rate in return for the same benefits that all public employees receive. They provide critical services in communities that need them, but can’t necessarily afford them.

We need equitable solutions and action. We ask that a complex situation be examined further than concluding that unions are big, bad and greedy.

We are not pursuing riches beyond compare, just fair compensation for hard work so that we have the chance to keep calling Hawaii our home.

No one believes that the HHSC is a "works program." But we object to balancing budgets on the backs of our already low-paid workers without legitimate communication and discussion.

We don’t have a PR machine, "legislative minions" or any intention of holding the future of health care hostage. We are men and women who provide health care services, among many others, and what we had were legitimate questions about what going down this route would entail.

What was missing were answers.