Edward Pei Hawaii Bankers Association Kaiser Permanente

Workers, youth delegate Kaiser Board Member Edward Pei

A Mililani High student leaflets downtown to spread awareness about low bank teller wages.

A Mililani High student leaflets downtown to spread awareness about low bank teller wages.

On July 10, a group of 20 students, Kaiser workers, and community members leafleted downtown to raise awareness of the low wages endured by bank workers and encouraged bank workers to take our online survey. They also delegated Edward Pei (Kaiser Permanente Board Member and Executive Director of the Hawaii Bankers Association) and asked him to sign a pledge to pay workers a living wage, which he refused to sign.

If you are a bank teller, we encourage you to fill out this online survey: http://unitehere5.org/banksurvey

Kahala Resort workers ratify contract

Kahala ResortOn July 4, workers at The Kahala Resort ratified their new contract with a 99% yes vote. They are the final Local 5 hotel in Waikiki to ratify their contract, meaning all of our Waikiki hotels now have a contract that puts them on the same standard. Their wage increases will be effective as of July 1, 2014.

NLRB dismisses charges against Local 5

UNITE HERE Local 5 HawaiiAs expected, this charge filed against Local 5 by three Hyatt Regency Waikiki workers with the legal assistance of the National Right to Work Foundation was dismissed by the NLRB. The NLRB determined that we sufficiently communicated with Hyatt Regency Waikiki workers regarding the payroll error made by the employer. RTW Foundation has filed charges against us in the past, none of which
have been meritorious. We are pleased with the dismissal of this charge and will continue our efforts to serve our members and Hawaii’s working people.

The NLRB’s dismissal can be viewed here.

2014 IU Delegate Convention

Local 5 delegates Juliana, Jason, and Evelyn celebrate with other new organized workers from all over the U.S. and Canada.

Local 5 delegates Juliana, Jason, and Evelyn celebrate with other new organized workers from all over the U.S. and Canada.

Every 5 years, UNITE HERE locals from all over the U.S.A. and Canada come together for our IU Delegate Convention. 20 delegates represented Local 5 and showed Boston the aloha spirit.

The Convention’s theme, “Changing 50,000 More Lives,” was reflected in a program filled with videos, speeches, and more that highlighted how being a union has positively impacted people’s lives. The program included a parade of new organized workers, an action outside Harvard’s Doubletree Hotel under boycott, updates from around the world, photo and story contests, musical performances, and much more.

Guest speakers included (in order of appearance): Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, LIUANA President Terry O’Sullivan, DeMaurice Smith of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO Executive Secretary-Treasurer Maria Elena Durazo, Reverend Scott Marks, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Senator Elizabeth Warren,

View photos here.

Starwood acknowledges grounds workers should get paid for higher rated work

2014-06-18 14.38.07After being asked to perform higher rated work (construction work) without proper compensation, a group of Grounds workers at the Starwood properties in Waikiki decided to press for negotiations and back pay. On June 17, 2014 they engaged with the General Manager at the Sheraton Waikiki and moved the company to acknowledge that they are performing Laborer work and should get higher pay for the project they are currently working on. In addition, they will get back pay for the time already spent on the project. The successful resolution was hammered out with the assistance of Charlie (Engineering shop steward), Amanda (the organizer from the property), and the grounds crew led by their steward, Erwin.

Back pay for Moana Surfrider bartender

20140604_151750Yvonne has worked as a bartender for over 20 years at the Westin Moana Surfrider. Recently, she was issued a 10 day suspension because $35 meant to be turned in as a bank drop, instead ended up in a cash drop. Yvonne is an excellent employee with no record of making this error before. The company said that it was a violation of the cash handling policy. The Union staff along with shop steward Pila filed a grievance and successfully got the 10 day suspension removed from her record with full back-pay.