Posts
Workers, youth delegate Kaiser Board Member Edward Pei
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
On 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.
Starwood acknowledges grounds workers should get paid for higher rated work
After 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
Yvonne 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.
Victory against Sound & Light subcontracting
In 2002, many of our hotel contracts were strengthened with new language to fight subcontracting. Recently, Starwood sought to ignore it and planned to outsource the Sound and Light work done at the Sheraton Waikiki and Royal Hawaiian to an outside company called PSAV. The Union filed a grievance and the case went to arbitration. The Union won the arbitration and saved 7 jobs after the arbitrator found Starwood’s plan to be a violation. The active engagement and preparation facilitated by the workers in the department made the case stronger. This case shows how workers can play a major role in their own case while improving chances for success.