Following weeks of negotiations and a strong collective stance, over 2,500 workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 5 have decisively voted to ratify a new labor contract at five Marriott-operated hotels in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now reports that the approval came yesterday for employees at the Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, Sheraton Waikiki, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, and the Westin Moana Surfrider, ending a period of uncertainty and contention for these hospitality workers.
Apart from salary increments, the new contract aims to address the persisting issues of workload and staffing that the workers have long voiced. Ratification votes are set to continue with UNITE HERE Local 5 members at the Sheraton Maui and Sheraton Kauai later this week, aiming to secure similar protections for workers there, according to Hawaii News Now. The union's push comes in the wake of over 1,800 Hilton Hawaiian Village workers recently ratifying their contract, which followed a protracted 40-day strike at the state's largest hotel.
This labor movement holds particular significance as it follows a historic 3-day hotel strike on Labor Day weekend, which saw seven out of eight Hawaii hotels settle their contracts. The determination and solidarity exhibited by these workers have paved the way for the current series of ratified agreements across the industry. As it stands, the Hyatt Regency Waikiki remains the only hotel without a new contract, leaving approximately 500 workers in limbo, with potential strike action looming.
"For 40 days, Hilton Hawaiian Village workers led all of Local 5. Their willingness to step-up and strike set a historic new standard for hotel workers, and without their sacrifice we would not have been able to secure similar agreements with Kyo-ya and Marriott," Cade Watanabe, Financial Secretary-Treasurer, was quoted in a KITV interview. Watanabe further emphasized the contract's value, "These agreements achieve our major goals—wages that help us get ahead and not just get by, job security and a commitment from our employers to address workload and staffing concerns that have a direct impact on our guests."
