HONOLULU — Gov. Josh Green does not have the legal authority to intervene in the standoff between the Hawaii Nurses Association and Hawaii Pacific Health but could mediate the dispute if both sides formally request his help, Green and state attorney general Anne Lopez said in a statement released on Monday.

What You Need To Know

  • The governor and state attorney general responded to inquiries about whether the state could step in to resolve the labor dispute between RNs represented by the Hawaii Nurses Association and an ongoing lockout by Hawaii Pacific Health at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children
  • Green said he has the “utmost respect” for nurses and cited both his years of working side-by-side with nurses during his time as an emergency room physician and his support for nurses across his political career
  • Green: "While I am more than willing to mediate if both the union and the employer request my help, the attorney general has informed me that legally, I’m not permitted to get directly involved in a private labor dispute"

The statement was released in response to inquiries from community and local health care leaders about whether the state could step in to resolve the labor dispute that has already resulted in two brief strikes by registered nurses represented by HNA and an ongoing lockout by HPH parent company Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children. 

“Because Governor Green cares deeply about nurses and our entire health care community, he asked for my input on this labor dispute,” Lopez said. “The governor has consistently demonstrated his respect for nurses over the years and the critical role they play in the health care system.

“No legal basis, however, gives the governor the authority to intervene, even when requested by one party, in negotiations between a private union and a private employer,” she continued. “Should both parties, however, formally request his assistance, the governor can certainly offer support through mediation to help facilitate an agreement. He has shared with me he would like to see the strikes and lockouts end for the good of all.”

Green said he has the “utmost respect” for nurses and cited both his years of working side-by-side with nurses during his time as an emergency room physician and his support for nurses across his political career. 

“While I am more than willing to mediate if both the union and the employer request my help, the attorney general has informed me that legally, I’m not permitted to get directly involved in a private labor dispute,” he said. “It’s important that we respect these legal boundaries, which limit a governor’s ability to intervene in this type of private-sector matter.”

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.