Hotel workers' union seeking ratification site

The union representing some 5,000 workers at six major Waikiki hotels is still working out details of where and when meetings will be held for rank-and-file members to vote on whether to accept or reject a proposed contract agreed to early Monday, averting a strike.

The Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees AFL CIO Local 5 said it could take a few days to find out what meeting rooms are available in the hotels and to book them for the ratification meetings. Meanwhile the union is not disclosing the terms of the agreement reached, saying that information must go to the membership before the public.

The workers at the Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton Waikiki, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, Sheraton Moana Surfrider, Hyatt Regency Waikiki and Hilton Hawaiian Village have been working under a contract that expired March 1, 2000.

A stop-work meeting scheduled for Monday was averted by a tentative settlement and union negotiators have recommended a vote for the pact in a series of meetings at the hotels in the coming days.

Honolulu Water Supply bonds get 'AA' rating

International bond rating firm Fitch has given $66.8 million in Honolulu Board of Water Supply water system revenue bonds its "AA" rating.

The company gave the bonds its third-highest rating, noting strong financial operations, customer growth and a secure supply of water, as well as affordable water rates.

However, the company noted a potential need for a greater long-term supply of water as well as pressure on the water system to supply service to new areas.

The bonds are scheduled to be sold May 15 through A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc.

All Nippon Airways taps Takesue as VP, GM

All Nippon Airways Co. has named Millie Takesue vice president and general manager in Honolulu. Takesue began May 1, joining the airline from ANA Hotels Hawaii, where she was vice president and executive adviser.

In her new job, Takesue will be responsible for the airline's 18 flights a week between Honolulu and Japan, supervising a staff of 10 people.

Northwest Air mechanics approve contract

ROMULUS, Mich. >> Mechanics and cleaners at Northwest Airlines easily approved a contract proposal reached after more than four years of negotiations and a near walkout against the nation's fourth biggest airline.

The contract would make Northwest's mechanics the industry's highest-paid, upping their pay by an average of 24.4 percent over the four years. The pay of cleaners and custodians, who make up a very small part of the union, would rise an average of 13 percent.

Some 82.1 percent of union members voted to approve the contract via mail ballots; about 16.9 percent voted against it, it was announced today. The remaining 1 percent of the ballots were voided. Turnout was 94 percent among 9,333 eligible union voters.