Local 5 begins registration for strike benefits
Unite Here Local 5 is taking another step toward a hotel strike, starting to register workers at four Sheraton properties and the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki to receive strike benefits.
More than 1,100 union members signed up Wednesday to receive their $200 weekly benefit with the balance of the 4,000 strike-eligible employees expected to finish registering through tomorrow, said Cade Watanabe, a spokesman for Local 5.
Watanabe said that if a strike is called it will be the first time that debit cards have been used in Hawaii to link members and their benefits quickly. The use of debit cards was pioneered by some of the union's mainland chapters, Watanabe said, because it is less expensive and more efficient than cutting checks for members.
Last month, union members gave their bargaining committee permission to call a strike if talks break down. With that vote, members began making strike signs and preparing themselves and their families for the possibility that they could walk off the job.
The union, which met with Hilton negotiators on Tuesday and Wednesday and last met with Sheraton on Tuesday, has not attempted to schedule any more talks, he said.
"We're still open to discussion, but we have been very disappointed by the current proposals," Watanabe said.
Local 5 would like to see more progress made on pension and workload issues as well as subcontracting, medical plan contributions and wages, he said.
"Our members are ready and prepared to do what it takes to settle a contract," Watanabe said.
Despite Local 5's strike preparations, Sheraton still has a positive perception of the talks, said David Uchiyama, regional director of communications for Starwood Hotels.
"If you look at negotiations overall in the past year, the dialog has never been better," said Uchiyama, who has been through four rounds of talks. "They are looking out for the interests of their members and we are looking out for the interests of our associates and they are the same people."
If talks break down Sheraton's contingency would include bringing in neighbor island managers and scaling back restaurant and housekeeping services, he said.