Waikiki hotel
employees begin
voting on contract

The pact reportedly
outlaws additional
subcontracting

By Russ Lynch
Star-Bulletin

Union members at six major Waikiki hotels begin voting today on a proposed new two-year contract that offers them pay raises retroactive to March 1 of last year, when their previous contract expired.

The proposed contract also contains what Local 5 of the Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees, AFL-CIO, says is "rock-solid language" protecting jobs.

One of the serious issues between the union and the management of the hotels that employ some 5,000 Local 5 members, was subcontracting. The union wanted to stop the hotels from contracting outside workers to replace union members. While the union was holding off details until it could tell its members at the ratification meetings, the contract agreement reached May 7 reportedly outlaws any additional subcontracting through the life of the new contract.

The union said on its Web site that the proposed new contract language, which its negotiators are recommending to members, addresses the subcontracting issue "and the leasing out (of) food and beverage outlets."

The union gave few details of the pay package agreed, again holding out until members could be told in person. The Web site did say, however, that workers who do not receive tips would get an increase of 3 percent, or at least 40 cents an hour, retroactive to March 1, 2000, for all hours worked. From March 1, 2001, the non-tipped workers will receive at least 45 cents above the hourly rate. Workers who receive tips will get 10 cents an hour retroactive to March 1, 2000, and 15 cents an hour from March 1, 2001.

Negotiators for Local 5 and the Hawaii Council of Hotels reached agreement just in time to avert a strike at the beginning of last week's Asian Development Bank annual meeting.

Voting times and places Today: Hilton Hawaiian Village 6:30 to 9 a.m., 4 to 6 p.m., Honolulu Suites, Tapa Tower. Hyatt Regency Waikiki, 6 to 8 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m., Diamond Head Tower meeting rooms. Sheraton Waikiki and Royal Hawaiian, 6:30 to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m., Molokai Room at Sheraton Waikiki. Thursday: Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, 6:30 to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ainahau Showroom; 4 to 6 p.m., Robert Louis Stevenson Room. Friday: Sheraton Moana Surfrider, 6:30 to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m., Parlor Room.