Tag Archive for: Victory

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.

On May 15, workers at The Modern Honolulu strongly voted in favor of being represented by Local 5, keeping intact all of the benefits and protections of their union contract. 171 workers participated in the vote: 149 voted yes, 20 voted no, 1 ballot was voided, and 2 ballots were challenged. Workers are excited to move forward to build a strong future together.

On May 10, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii workers lead another action to draw attention to the low pay of bank tellers. They passed out leaflets in front of Bank of Hawaii and called on Edward Pei, Kaiser Permanente Board Member and Hawaii Bankers Association Executive Director, to raise bank tellers’ pay. This is just the beginning of a series of actions calling on Edward Pei to do the right thing and provide good jobs for our community. Good jobs here means money spent here, taxes paid here, a better life here.