Judge Rejects Maui Hospital Challenge

It was a last-ditch effort by labor unions to halt privatization of three state-run hospitals.

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A federal judge has denied an effort to halt privatization of three hospitals in Maui County.

The challenge was brought by local unions, including United Public Workers, who are worried the plan will impair workers current contracts, Courthouse News Service reported Thursday.

The hospitals are the Maui Memorial Medical Center and Kula Hospital and Clinic on Maui, and Lanai Community Hospital.

UPW has failed to prevent the state from privatizing Maui Memorial and two other hospitals.
UPW has failed to prevent the state from privatizing Maui Memorial and two other hospitals. Chad Blair/Civil Beat

Gov. David Ige called the bill allowing for privatization “historic” while the bill’s author, House Speaker Joseph Souki of Maui, called the bill “essential” for residents of his island, said CNS.

The governor, the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation and the Maui region board of directors selected Kaiser Permanente to take control of the Maui facilities this July.

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