Duration of hotel workers’ strike surpasses 1990 walkout

A Unite Here Local 5 hotel workers strike marked its 25th day Thursday, making it the union’s longest- running hotel strike in nearly three decades.

The strike began Oct. 8 when negotiations between Local 5 and Kyo-ya, which owns the Marriott-managed Sheraton Waikiki, Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Westin Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and Sheraton Maui, reached an impasse.

Unite Here Local 5, which represents 2,700 striking hotel workers in Hawaii, and Kyo-ya Hotels &Resorts returned to the bargaining table Oct. 26 and Saturday but emerged without a new contract.

Representatives from the local unit also are bargaining with Marriott, which manages the Kyo-ya hotels. Bargaining will resume Saturday.

Kyo-ya declined to comment.

Local 5 spokeswoman Paola Rodelas said in a statement,“The strength that we’ve shown in the streets has moved us closer to our goals, but several major obstacles still remain.”

It took 22 days to end Local 5’s last big hotel strike, which took place in 1990. That strike involved 7,500 workers for Hilton Hawaiian Village, Hyatt Regency Waikiki, the Ilikai, Kahala Hilton, Sheraton Waikiki, Sheraton Moana Surfrider, Princess Kaiulani, Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Sheraton Kauai, Sheraton Maui and Kona Hilton.

The current strike already has divided the community and caused pain for both sides. There have been 10 reports of strike- related incidents since the strike began, according to Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Yu.

“In nine of the 10 cases, picketers reported being yelled at by members of the public or, in one instance, having liquid thrown at them. In the remaining case, a picketer was (banned) from the hotel property,” Yu said.

Local 5 said it has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of five union workers, three at the Sheraton Maui and two at the Sheraton Waikiki, who following leafleting exercises got banned from the properties where they worked for one year.

Strikers have garnered support from some visitors and members of the community, including Gov. David Ige and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, who told striking hotel workers during an Oct. 22 meeting at the state Capitol that they would not cross the picket line.

But not everyone feels that way. Local 5 Secretary- Treasurer Eric Gill said hundreds of strikebreakers have crossed the line — although not enough to alleviate guest complaints.

Picketing proved to be a major disruption during the American Dental Association’s annual meeting, which brought 16,500 attendees to Oahu from Oct. 18-22.

Jason Ito, director of administration and planning for Kyo-Ya Hotels, apologized for the way that the strike is affecting other Waikiki Improvement Association members during their annual meeting Tuesday.

“We respect our employees right to stop work,” Ito said. “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. We appreciate the patience and understanding of all of our tourism industry partners.”