2 City Councilmembers say #NoToKaiser

Screen Shot 2014-03-21 at 2.17.39 PMIn March 2014, we released two TV ads featuring City Councilmembers Stanley Chang and Joey Manahan calling out Kaiser for trying to take away their workers’ guaranteed pensions. These 30 second spots have received a lot of positive responses from the community and coverage by the media. We applaud these Councilmembers for saying #NoToKaiser. We hope that you will, too, by posting the #NoToKaiser hashtag on Twitter and Instagram.

Graphic created by The AiKea Movement.

Graphic created by The AiKea Movement.

Civil Beat featured the ads in their “Ad Watch” series, while the Star-Advertiser did a story and an editorial piece on the ads. We don’t agree with the Star-Advertiser’s editorial article that questioned the ethics of these 2 Councilmembers for appearing in the ads, rather than questioning the ethics of Kaiser hurting old people by trying to take away their workers’ guaranteed pensions. Many submitted letters to the editor denouncing the Star-Advertiser and supporting these Councilmembers for drawing attention to such an important community issue. You can still contact their Editorial Page Editor Lucy Young-Oda. Call her at 529-4831 or email her: lyoungoda@staradvertiser.com. Let her know that getting old shouldn’t hurt, and ask why isn’t the Star-Advertiser questioning Kaiser’s ethics?

UNITE HERE Local 5 Launches Website For Consumers about Fitness Company Beachbody

PRESS RELEASE

UNITE HERE Local 5 Launches Website For Consumers about Fitness Company Beachbody
Beachbody’s Multi-Level Marketing Program could cost consumers far more than they stand to gain, says the organization.

Honolulu, HI – UNITE HERE Local 5 announced a new website about fitness company Beachbody today, www.beachbodybummer.org.  Known for its “P90X” and “Insanity” workout DVDs sold on TV infomercials, Beachbody is a Multi-Level Marketing program.  According to UNITE HERE Local 5, the company’s salespeople, independent non-employees typically recruited by other independent non-employees, must pay both upfront and monthly fees to qualify for the chance to make money.  Unlike traditional sales jobs with guaranteed base rates of pay, Beachbody salespeople do not make any hourly income, instead being paid out through a complex system of commissions which is not directly based on the value of what they sell – many of the commissions are dependent on recruiting other people to be salespeople – and which is subject to change at Beachbody’s discretion.

In addition to examining the company’s sales program, the website provides comparative information for consumers to consider before they decide to buy the company’s nutritional shakes and other products. The site examines the company’s policy procedures, compensation plan and actual earnings by salespeople, as well as Multi-Level Marketing programs in general.  According to UNITE HERE Local 5, findings include:

  • In 2012, most salespeople did not earn any bonuses or commissions from Beachbody.
  • Beachbody’s Shakeology nutritional shake costs significantly more than similar products.
  • Salespeople are required to pay monthly fees to maintain their standings whether or not they earn any revenue.
  • There are numerous reports about Beachbody’s business practices on online consumer forums.

Kupuna tell Kaiser: Getting old shouldn’t hurt!

Kupuna hula Kaiser Permanente Hawaii HonoluluLocal 5 retirees are performing the hula at Kaiser Permanente Hawai’i with a message to Kaiser: Getting old shouldn’t hurt! So far, they’ve performed at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua and Kaiser Permanente Honolulu.

Getting old doesn’t hurt for our retirees. They have their pension. Our members who work for Kaiser will lose at least $1200/month when they retire at age 65, if Kaiser takes away their pension. $1200 is more than just a number. It’s food on the table, caring for your family, putting a roof over your head.

If you believe that getting old shouldn’t hurt, join us at the Hawai’i Can! Rally at City Hall organized by The AiKea Movement. It takes place on Thursday, March 13 at 4:45p at Honolulu Hale. Good jobs are secure. Good jobs pay a living wage. Good jobs allow us to live comfortably after we retire. Good jobs for everyone. Hawai’i Can!

Kaiser, don’t touch our pensions! Getting old shouldn’t hurt.

The leaflet that our kupuna hula dancers have been passing out to Kaiser Permanente Hawaii patients

The leaflet that our kupuna hula dancers have been passing out to Kaiser Permanente Hawaii patients

Local 5 members featured on new show, HAWAI’I CAN

Meynard, Marites, Rodney, & Joli on Episode 1 of HAWAI'I CAN

Meynard, Marites, Rodney, & Joli on Episode 1 of HAWAI’I CAN

The AiKea Movement launched a new TV series on ‘Ōlelo Community Media called HAWAI’I CAN, which will feature discussions on issues that affect Hawaii’s people and what we can do as a community to solve them.

The first two episodes feature Local 5 members. Episode 1, “Waikiki: Present & Future,” is hosted by Ilikai Hotel worker Joli Tokusato with guests Meynard Duyao (Hilton Hawaiian Village), Rodney Nakashima (Sheraton), and Marites Uy (Moana Surfrider). They discuss the present & future of Waikiki’s tourism industry. Hotel workers are the experts on this subject. They are the ones on property every day. They are the ones working directly with our visitors. Hawaii’s #1 industry is carried on their shoulders.

Tune into ‘OLELO 54 during the following dates & times to watch Episode 1:

  • March 3 at 11:00a
  • March 5 at 6:30p
  • March 8 at 12:30p
  • March 11 11 at 8:30a
AiKea Hawaii Can Episode 2

Guests on Episode 2 of the AiKea Movement’s new TV show, HAWAI’I CAN

Episode 2, “Good jobs for everyone,” is hosted by housekeepers Meynard and Marites and features guests from three seemingly different workplaces: Joli Tokusato (Ilikai Hotel), David Garcia & Kavika Stringer (Kaiser Permanente Hawai’i – Moanalua), and Tim Vandeveer (former Turtle Bay Resort worker). Workers here are experiencing very similar issues that are all part of a larger problem: corporations are putting profits over people. Look out for showtimes for Episode 2 on our website or on Facebook.

Stay tuned for more episodes of AiKea’s new show HAWAI’I CAN.

What does $1200/month mean to you?

What does $1200 mean to you? See what our members said

What does $1200 mean to you? See what our members said

Our members who work for Kaiser Permanente Hawaii will receive at least $1200/month from their pension if they retire at age 65. $1200 is more than just a number, so we asked them to show us what $1200/month means to them if Kaiser took their pension away.

View all of the photos on our Facebook page. You do not need a Facebook account to view these photos.

Judge rules The Modern Honolulu violated workers’ labor law rights

Modern Honolulu workers Juliana Alcaraz and Audrey Jordan-Gecain

Modern Honolulu workers Juliana Alcaraz and Audrey Jordan-Gecain

On January 23, 2014, a Federal Judge ruled that The Modern Honolulu violated workers’ labor law rights!  After a 4-day trial in October 2012, Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) William L. Schmidt has issued his decision regarding five National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) unfair labor practice charges filed by UNITE HERE Local 5 (“Local 5”) against The Modern Honolulu (“Hotel”).

The ALJ agreed with Local 5 and the NLRB regarding all of the allegations against the Hotel.  The ALJ found that:

  • The Modern Honolulu unlawfully fired Juliana Alcaraz for speaking about working conditions during an employee meeting
  • The Modern Honolulu unlawfully barred Ms. Alcaraz from the hotel premises when assigned as a Union agent
  • There was a “consistent pattern” on the part of housekeeping manager Emma Clemente to illegally coerce and interrogate workers about their union activities.
  • The housekeeping manager wrongfully denied worker Jenie Amoguis her Weingarten rights when she requested to be represented by the Union during an investigatory interview.

Congratulations to the workers at The Modern Honolulu!