The Local 5 hotel workers’ strike coincides with new statistical data that reinforces what we already know: Workers in Hawaii, especially women, are not making enough to make ends meet.

Hawaii has one of the lowest rates of economic security in the nation — ranked 49th, according to a new analysis by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

Only 60 percent of Hawaii women earn enough to meet basic needs, and sadly, that goes down to 19 percent for single women with children. We have a persistent wage gap, with women earning less in almost every profession. And women are the majority of minimum wage and low-income workers.

Taking the drastic step of striking means that our hotel workers — who are mostly women — are in a dire situation. We need to do the right thing by Hawaii’s workers and families, and to do it quickly.

Nicole Woo

Co chair, Democratic Party of Hawaii Women’s Caucus

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