DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Local 5 hotel workers are on their 27th day of striking in Waikiki. They are joined by Mayor Kirk Caldwell who shakes Sam Merzan’s hand.
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I stayed at the Princess Kaiulani hotel from Oct. 20-30. The Unite Here Local 5 hotel workers were on strike.
In addition to inconveniences at the Princess Kaiulani, my biggest complaint was with the outrageous behavior of the picketing strikers. Starting from as early as 6 a.m. to as late as 11 p.m., there was the continuous loud pounding of various types of drums, chants and shouting of slogans using bullhorn-type speakers.
This unending noise could be heard for blocks, disturbing sleep even at nearby hotels that were not Sheraton properties. Kyo-ya and Marriott did not seek an injunction to stop this noisemaking, and the city government did not appear to do anything to get the strikers to stop this practice. Unite Here Local 5 workers were concerned only with their own interests and totally disrespected everyone else.
In light of this apparently accepted strike practice, the Oahu tourist slogan should change from, “Welcome to a peaceful paradise” to “Welcome to the Wild, Wild West.”
Frank Yurich
Shillington, Penn.
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