Hale Nani Strike: Day 3

IMG_1687Hale Nani workers are stronger than ever! We had large numbers on the picket lines, dancing & chanting all day.

We went to Waikiki and visited our brothers & sisters who work at Local 5 hotels. They will be joining us at our finale rally today in Waikiki.

We continued to go around the neighborhood to talk to our neighbors about the strike. Our neighbors are behind us and our fight to stand up for our rights!

We held a service at the Community of Christ Church. Amy Perruso (Secretary-Treasurer, Hawaii State Teachers Association), Councilmember Ron Menor, and Pastor Aaron Mahi shared their words of support. We sang “We Shall Overcome” and “We Shall Not Be Moved”: two songs from the Civil Rights Movement.

Stronger together!

View more photos on our Facebook page.

Hale Nani Strike: Day 2

13265959_1174222279278719_6974300511877474216_nYesterday, we had a strong presence on the picket lines and in the community.

We went downtown to leaflet and inform the community that we are on strike to stand up for our rights as workers. Many signed a petition in support of us.

We went to the State Capitol and asked our legislators to stand with us.

We passed out leaflets in front of the Mental Health Mahalo Awards at Ala Moana Hotel, which was sponsored by Avalon. Ala Moana Hotel banquet workers and Starbucks workers wore buttons in support of us.

We went door-to-door in the neighborhood around Hale Nani to talk to our neighbors about the strike.

United we stand, divided we fall!

View photos on our Facebook page.

Hale Nani Strike: Day 1

IMG_1343We kicked off our strike with 90% participation, lots of energy, and plenty of media coverage!

KHON Channel 2, KITV Channel 4, and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser covered our strike. We showed our community that we’re standing up against the unfair treatment of workers.

Let’s keep up the momentum. United we stand!

If you’re on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram: Let Avalon & the community know why you’re on strike. Use hashtags: #HaleNaniStrike #1u #uniteherephoto

View our Day 1 strike photos on our Facebook page.

PRESS RELEASE: Hale Nani Rehabilitation & Nursing Center workers to move forward with strike

Media Advisory
For Immediate Release
May 16, 2016

Media Contact: Paola Rodelas
Mobile: (808) 333-4782
prodelas@unitehere5.org

Hale Nani Rehabilitation & Nursing Center workers to move forward with strike

WHAT: 3-day Hale Nani Rehabilitation & Nursing Center workers strike

WHERE: Hale Nani Rehabilitation & Nursing Center – 1677 Pensacola St. Honolulu, HI 96822 (Street parking available only)

WHEN:
Picketing at Hale Nani on:

  • Monday, May 16 | 5:30p – 6:30p
  • Tuesday, May 17 | 7:00a – 6:00p
  • Wednesday, May 18 | 7:00a – 6:00p
  • Thursday, May 19 | 7:00a – 3:00p

VISUALS: Hale Nani workers and community supporters wearing red Local 5 shirts sign-waving, marching, and passing out leaflets

2016-05-16 14.00.00Honolulu (May 16, 2016) – Local 5 members who work at Hale Nani Rehabilitation & Nursing Center are moving forward with their plans to go on strike for three days, starting today at 5:30p.

Workers on strike are not discouraging patients or their families from entering the facilities. In fact, they encourage patients and their families to come to the facilities for any services they may need.

Workers will be passing out leaflets near the facility to inform the community that they are striking in response to management’s unfair treatment of workers. The Union has filed four unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that Hale Nani, owned by Utah-based Avalon Health Care, violted federal labor law by intimidating, surveilling, and terminating Union supporters who are standing up for better patient care.

“We love our residents and have made strong connections with their families. We are trying to make Avalon’s Hale Nani a world-class facility. The company has responded by threatening union supporters and implying that we will lose our jobs if we stand up for our rights. We will stick together to improve Avalon,” says Rhoda Magaoay, who worked as a certified nursing assistant at Hale Nani for three years until she was recently terminated.

Local 5 represents 211 Hale Nani workers—primarily certified nursing assistants and workers in the dietary, maintenance, recreation, and housekeeping departments. Avalon Health Care recently purchased Hale Nani for about $44.6 million. It also owns the Avalon Care Center in Kalihi and the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. It is about to open a new senior living community called Kalakaua Gardens on Kalakaua Ave. across from the Hawaii Convention Center.
Local 5 represents approximately 11,000 workers throughout Hawaii who work in the hospitality, health care and food service industries and is an affiliate of UNITE HERE, an international union that represents over 250,000 workers throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.unitehere5.org.

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Stand with the Hale Nani workers on strike!

2016.05.11 Hale Nani Strike Facebook event coverHale Nani Rehabilitation & Nursing Center is unfairly treating its workers by intimidating, surveilling, and even terminating Union supporters who are standing up for better patient care. Over 80% of Hale Nani workers authorized a 3-day strike. Stand with us!

Rally at Waikiki:
Date: Thursday, May 19, 2016
Time: 3:45p – 5:15p
Place: Across from the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel on Kalakaua Ave. beachside
RSVP on our Facebook event.

Join us at the picket line in front of Hale Nani (1677 Pensacola St.):
Mon. May 16 — 5:30p – 6:30p
Tue. May 17 — 7:00a – 6:00p
Wed. May 18 — 7:00a – 6:00p
Thu. May 19 — 7:00a – 3:00p

More leaders step up to talk to their coworkers about our 2018 plan

2016-04-27 09.33.252016-04-27 09.47.302016-04-27 09.33.442016-04-27 09.49.51

Back in January, 20 Local 5 members took a leave of absence to talk about our plan to win in 2018 when our union contracts expire. Now an additional 21 members took a leave of absence for two weeks to explain to their coworkers the importance of the allocation vote and how it connects to our 2018 contract fight. They invited their coworkers to coffee hours in their homes, at parks, and at restaurants to talk about our plan for our 2018 contract fight. Mahalo to these workers for stepping up as leaders!