Hotel workers
at Royal Lahaina
win increase in
pay, benefits

Gary Kubota
Star-Bulletin

WAILUKU >> Union officials have reached a tentative settlement with the Royal Lahaina Resort in Kaanapali, calling for a 16 percent wage increase over three years.

The agreement with the ILWU, reached yesterday evening, also includes an increase in tips for luau and hotel restaurant waiters, and more pay for additional duties by employees in housekeeping and at the bell desk.

Union officials said the hotel also agreed to pay a $50,000 signing bonus, which will be split among some 280 employees.

"We're very happy to have our negotiations completed and look forward to a really good year," said Stacy Casco, the resort's spokeswoman.

The 540-room Royal Lahaina is a subsidiary of the California-based Pleasant Travel Service, parent company of the travel business Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays.

The ILWU had been without a contract since May 31, 2000.

A ratification vote on the contract has been tentatively scheduled for next week Wednesday.

Eusebio "Bo" Lapenia, president of ILWU Local 142, said both sides made compromises to arrive at the agreement.

"I think it's one we can all pretty much accept," Lapenia said.

Lapenia said the union will be calling off a nationwide boycott of Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays, an action the ILWU took about two months ago.

During the negotiations, union officials said the Royal Lahaina hotel workers were the lowest paid among employees at Kaanapali hotels. Lapenia said at the end of the contract on Sept. 30, 2003, workers at Royal Lahaina Resort will be earning 2 percent less than workers at the Hyatt Regency Maui, the hotel with the highest wages in Kaanapali.

The union organized a number of informational demonstrations as well as a two-day strike. The hotel responded by retaining a cleaning contractor in the event of a prolonged walkout.

Royal Lahaina employees plan to hold a victory party Friday at 4 p.m. at Wahikuli Park in Lahaina.

"We are thrilled," housekeeper Camilla Lanse said. "It's too bad it took such a long fight ... with this contract, we feel like we won our respect."