Unite Here Local 5 and major community organizers are slated to gather in Waikiki this morning, which marks day 38 of the hotel workers strike, to demonstrate “resolve and solidarity” prior to resuming bargaining later this week.
The action, which is set for 10 a.m. at the intersection between the Princess Kaiulani Hotel and the Westin Moana Surfrider Hotel, comes as the union prepares to bargain Thursday and Friday.
The strike began Oct. 8 when negotiations between Local 5 and Kyo-ya, which owns the Marriott-managed Sheraton Waikiki, Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Westin Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and Sheraton Maui, reached an impasse.
Local 5, which represents 2,700 striking hotel workers in Hawaii; Kyo-ya; and Marriott were at the bargaining table Thursday and Friday. Kyo-ya and Marriott declined to provide updates, but Local 5 spokeswoman Paola Rodelas said the union made progress even though last week’s negotiations ended without a contract.
“The last local items that we have to discuss have to do with wages and benefits,” Rodelas said.
Local strikers are part of a nationwide strike, which is still underway in Boston, San Francisco, Honolulu and Maui. Settlements have been reached in San Jose, Oakland and San Diego, Calif.; and Detroit.
Unite Here reached a tentative agreement about two weeks ago with Marriott on national issues such as job safety and security and automation and technology, she said.
Mark Howard, Hawaii Americana Realty principal broker and president, urges local union members to wrap up bargaining and their strike, which he said has hurt more than just Kyo-ya and Marriott.
“We’ve had strike-related vacation rental cancellations, and I’ve seen nearby restaurants harmed. Nonprofits have had to cancel or move events,” Howard said. “If they are unhappy, they should find a way to take it out on their employer and not make everyone else suffer.”
Despite bringing in temporary workers and expecting nonunion staff to work extra, service levels at striking hotels have been disrupted.
The strike negatively affected Hawaii’s largest group event of the year, the American Dental Association’s annual meeting, which brought about 16,500 attendees and guests to Honolulu from
Oct. 18 to 22. On Maui the strike affected Spiked!, a
Hawai‘i Food &Wine Festival event held Oct. 20 at the Sheraton Maui. If the strike stretches into next week, it could put a damper on the Nov. 18 Maui Jim Maui Classic at the Ka‘anapali Kai Golf Course.