Ka’anapali Beach Club Workers Rally for their Families
Hotel workers at the Ka’anapali Beach Club (KBC) in Lahaina, Maui organized a rally yesterday to protest the substandard agreement proposed by the hotel’s management.
The festive holiday-themed rally aimed to raise awareness to guests and the community about this important contract fight that impacts 198 workers and their families. Nearly 80 workers gathered along the beach and Lower Honoapi’ilani Road, wearing holiday hats and marching, chanting, caroling, and passing out leaflets
The hotel’s workers are demanding wages and benefits that match the standard set by other hotels that are part of UNITE HERE Local 5, like Sheraton Maui. KBC workers currently make $3 an hour less on average and do not have the same medical or retirement benefits that other Local 5 members receive.
“As members of Local 5, we stand united to have a good contract. We devoted our lives to work for this company, and we will stay together until we have this contract—for our families and our future,” says Imelda Ragudo, a KBC employee who works in the housekeeping department.
“I am a proud employee of the #2 property in the entire Diamond Resorts International corporation. Together, my teammates and I provide diamond-level service to our guests. We believe that we should receive industry-standard compensation and benefits that match our efforts,” says Kevin Deeley, who works in the KBC engineering department.
