Unions plan march,
concert, picnics

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Star-Bulletin staff

Unions will display their unity with a number of events planned for today, getting a jump start on Labor Day.

The University of Hawaii faculty members have organized a multi-union march to the theme of labor and economic justice.

The 1-mile march will try to keep the public eye on two unions with ongoing disputes: The Hawaii State Teachers Association, which has a contract dispute with the state over teachers' bonuses; and members of the International Longshoremen's and Warehouse- men's Union Local 142, who lost their jobs when the Hawaiian Waikiki Beach Hotel's former owner went into foreclosure.

The march will join ILWU picketers in front of the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel. About 400 teachers, members of the HSTA, were expected to join the event.

"The basic focus is that in both education and in the economy, we still have a long way to go to treat all our members and the members of other unions fairly," HSTA spokeswoman Joan Husted said.

"There's a feeling that there's no need for unions anymore because they feel they get treated as they should be treated.

"But the situation faced by the workers at the Aston hotel and the public schoolteachers have demonstrated that we've not achieved justice," Husted said.

The procession will begin at Kapiolani Community College at 11:45 a.m. today and end at the Waikiki Shell where an AFL-CIO concert is being held. Other unions joining the march include the Hawaii Government Employees Association and Local 5 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union.

The AFL-CIO's "Labor in Concert" will feature entertainment including Fiji, Melveen Leed, Loyal Garner, Matt Catingub and Ho'onua.

Gates to the Waikiki Shell will open at 1 p.m. with children's activities and union games. The concert will run from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The free event is for members only by ticket.

Parking will be available at Kapiolani Community College with free shuttle service to and from the Waikiki Shell.

Also today, Unity House will hold its annual Labor Day picnics statewide for its members, their families and retirees of Unity House, H.E.R.E., Local 5, Teamsters Local 996, Local 681 and Hawaii members of Local 399. The Oahu picnic features food, entertainment, prizes and other festivities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ala Moana Beach Park.

The Teamsters will celebrate Labor Day with their annual picnic at Sand Island Beach Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.