Hotel workers
plan to picket
Sheraton properties

Friday's contract cancellation
gives the union the right
to strike without notice

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By Lyn Danninger
ldanninger@starbulletin.com

A Hawaii hotel workers' union plans to picket two Sheraton hotels today after canceling employee contracts with the hotel chain on Friday.

By canceling employee contracts, the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employee's Local 5 can picket Sheraton hotels without danger of liability and announce a strike without notice.

"We did it to untie our hands and send the hotels a message that we are not divided and we're intent on getting a good contract," Eric Gill, financial secretary-treasurer of Local 5.

The union has scheduled pickets at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani hotel and the Sheraton Moana Surfrider, both from 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Both Local 5 and Sheraton hotels officials have said negotiations are proceeding.

Local 5 canceled the contracts at a negotiations meeting Friday afternoon, a member of the Local 5 negotiating committee said. Local 5 then sent a memo to Sheraton employees that said the move was made because negotiations "failed to make real movement."

But the union would not call a strike without first taking a membership vote, Gill said.

"We have no plans to strike at this time and would take a strike vote before we did," he said.

The move to cancel the contract is something new for the union and caused some initial concern among members, Gill said. Now members have embraced the idea and Gill said he expects a good turnout today.

In the meantime negotiations continue with other hotels, he said.

Negotiations with the union have dragged on longer than expected, said Keith Vieira, vice president and director of Hawaii operations for Sheraton parent Starwood Hotel & Resorts Worldwide Inc.

"It's gone on longer but we are prepared now and want to get a contract. We'll meet every day for a month if we have to and do whatever it takes to get a contract," he said.

Vieira said hotel occupancy has improved in recent months compared to the drop immediately in the wake of Sept. 11. Nearly all employees are back to work although not necessarily back to full hours, he said.

"It's looking like it will be a pretty good summer. I'm hoping by the end of the year we'll get back to normal."