Archive for category: Updates

View PDF version of Marriott Strike Day 16 bulletin here.

View all photos from Marriott Strike Day 15.

Union Strong Hold The Line!

October 26^th and 27^th we have negotiations with both Kyo-ya & Marriott. We don’t know if this means they are ready to settle. But we do know that our strategy is working! If they’re serious when they come to the table: GREAT! If not, we gotta do what we gotta do!

At this point, management has been unwilling to settle on key issues like understaffing, workload, job security, sub-contracting and automation. Also, we are extremely far apart on the money for wages and benefits. Management proposed just $0.70 the first year of the contract for medical, pension, and wages. We have a long way to go but will keep fighting to get there!

Strikers Met with Gov. Ige and Mayor Caldwell: Addressed Issues of “One Job” & Automation

Strikers met with both Governor David Ige and Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

The Governor said, “One job should be enough. There should be a wage settlement, a package settlement that will end the strike. We’re talking with management and encouraging management to get back to the table so that we can negotiate and talk about meeting the needs of the workers in a fair way that respects their rights and most importantly that can deliver on their needs. [The workers] are the heart of the visitor industry.”

Mayor Caldwell expressed concerns about the trend towards automation. “If you don’t have people, you don’t have aloha. If you cut back on the interaction between people, someone who’s from here who understands the spirit of aloha and someone who’s not [from here] with a machine, we become like any where else in the world. Then we lose our competitive advantage and we lose the heart and soul of us as people.”

Both the Mayor and the Governor have committed that they will not cross our picket lines.

News coverage:

• Honolulu Star-Advertiser: “Hawaii governor, Honolulu mayor say they won’t attend hotel functions during strike”
• KHON 2: “‘There’s real damage being done,’ Mayor Caldwell on strike”
• Hawaii News Now: “Hotel workers strike grinds into second week as negotiations scheduled”
• Hawaii Public Radio: “Unite Here! Local 5 Enters Into 15th Day of Strike for Better Pay and Job Security”
• Big Island Now: “Rep. Gabbard Stands With Hotel Workers”
• Maui Now: “Rep. Gabbard Supports Hotel Workers Fighting for ‘Living Wage’”

View PDF version of Marriott Strike Day 14 bulletin here.

View all photos from Marriott Strike Day 13.

RALLY AT THE PK: We rallied in front of the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, joined by several other unions who stand with us, including HSTA (Hawaii State Teachers Association), APWU (American Postal Workers Union), and IAM (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers). Local 5 members are leading the labor movement in Hawaii, and we will continue to go on strong on the strike line. One day longer, one day stronger!

PRIDE PARADE: Strikers, other Local 5 members, and community supporters marched in the Pride Parade chanting loud and proud that one job should be enough to live in Hawaii!

RALLY AT SHERATON MAUI: Strikers rallied on the beach at Sheraton Maui and disrupted the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival. Two tickets to the event cost $590. Meanwhile, Local 5 members are working multiple jobs to make ends meet.

GUESTS SUPPORT US: Guests have been coming to our picket lines every single day to show their support. Longtime Royal Hawaiian guest Sue Leonard brought pizza to the line to support and show her appreciation of us: “It’s not the Royal I know and love without you.”

News coverage:

• KITV 4: “Thousands marched at annual pride parade”
• KHON 2: “Watch the 2018 Honolulu Pride Parade #FLYWITHPRIDE”
• Daily Kos: “Top 1% is getting its highest paydays ever, thanks to the war on workers”

View PDF version of Marriott Strike Day 12 bulletin here.

View all photos from Marriott Strike Day 11.

Our picket lines are stronger than ever and support from the community keeps on coming. Let’s keep the momentum going!

Leaders of the striking local unions are meeting with Marriott this week to discuss job security and other overarching bargaining issues. However, Kyo-ya has not scheduled local negotiations in Hawaii. The vast majority of proposals – wages, benefits, workload, staffing, and more – are discussed in local negotiations.

Victories and highlights from yesterday:

• Hundreds of strikers lined up on Kalakaua once again to show our unity and strength.
• 5 pastors from different faith traditions gathered with hundreds of strikers to offer communion and prayer.
• We passed out leaflets to the ADA attendees at their event at the Waikiki Shell to inform them about the strike and the fact that the company providing staff at the Waikiki Shell is HiEmployment. HiEmployment supplies scabs to the striking hotels.
• Last week, we delegated the Dean of the School of Travel Industry Management at UH Manoa. He responded that they do not take sides in labor disputes and will not recruit scabs. We’re invited to their next meeting to talk about the strike.
• We filed unfair labor practice charges against all 4 Kyo-ya Waikiki hotels for telling us not to leaflet on property.

News coverage:

• Honolulu Star-Advertiser: “Unexpected challenges to Hawaii tourism”
• The New York Times: “Marriott Workers Struggle to Pay Bills, and Credit Union Fees”
• Bloomberg Law: “Marriott Faces California Labor Inquiry as Workers Strike”
• The Christian Science Monitor: “Labor-union militancy revives, from hotels to schools and steel mills”
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