JAMM AQUINO/JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Local 5 treasurer Eric Gill gestures to union members and hotel workers after ratification of a new contract negotiation at the Ala Moana Hotel on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 in Honolulu. Local 5 hotel workers voted on a new contract that passed with 99.6% approval from about 1000 union members. The ratification will end the 51-day strike against several major hotels owned by Kyo-ya and managed by Marriott.
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Unions have been under assault by the GOP leadership led by House Speaker Paul Ryan. Since his election, the 1st Congressional District of Wisconsin has been bleeding family-supporting jobs along with union membership.
In fact, Wisconsin recently became a right-to-work state under the leadership of Reince Priebus, Gov. Scott Walker and Ryan.
My union, UAW Local 72, located in Kenosha, Wis., has been decimated. Sadly, what was once a proud union town is now where Priebus lives and Ryan serves. Enough said?
As a returning “snowbird,” I love the state of Hawaii and its people. Ohana here is taken seriously. Unionism is about ohana.
Hurray for Unite Here Local 5! Hurray for taking on this fight! Mahalo for standing up for the right to be paid a living wage. I was proud to stand with you.
David Corey
Kenosha, Wis.
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