Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children and the Hawaii Nurses’ Association announced today that they had reached a tentative agreement on a new 3-year contract.

The agreement with HNA, which was negotiated Wednesday night, covers approximately 725 nurses at Kapiolani and includes wage increases totaling 7% over the course of the contract, health care premium cost coverage benefits for single, double and family coverage, and improvements to the paid time-off process.

It also addresses nurses’ personal protective equipment and safety concerns “while being mindful of the continued unreliable supply of necessary PPE,” according to a news release from Kapiolani.

The nurses last week voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike about six months into bargaining for a new contract in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and in advance of a scheduled meeting with the hospital and a federal negotiator on Wednesday.

The nurses will now vote electronically on whether to ratify the tentative agreement next Wednesday and Thursday.

“Contract negotiations are never easy, and we greatly appreciate the dedication and commitment of the negotiating committees to come together and agree on a contract that is fair and sustainable,” said Kapiolani CEO Martha Smith in a news release. “This tentative agreement continues to provide our nurses with highly-competitive wages and benefits while also addressing the very real long-term economic challenges facing our industry today.”

She added: “It has been a long process for all involved. We are ready to move forward with our nurses and focus on what we do best, providing safe, quality care for Hawaii’s women and children.”

HNA said it will hold a series of informational town hall meetings for the nurses through Tuesday.

“This has been a grueling, demoralizing process, but we believe we finally have an agreement that is fair,” said Daniel Ross, president of the HNA’s Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 50. “We believe our three informational pickets and the overwhelming number of votes to support a strike made Kapi‘olani’s management finally sit up and pay attention.”

Ross said that safety issues will now be part of the permanent agenda in meetings going forward to improve patient and staff safety.

“The nurses are also allowed to replace N95 masks that are damaged, fit poorly or feel unsafe to reuse,” he said.