CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Hernando Ramos Tan, right, and other member of Local 5 talked to reporters in front of district court this morning.

Hotel workers plead not guilty
over demonstration arrests

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By Russ Lynch
rlynch@starbulletin.com

All but one of the hotel workers' union demonstrators who were arrested last week pleaded not guilty today of obstruction charges in connection with their Wednesday demonstration at the entrance to the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

The only one to plead guilty in Honolulu District Court was John Brown, a tourist from Alaska who is not a member of the union but had joined the protest out what he called support "for unions who seek a minimum wage."

Because he doesn't live here Brown, who was staying at the Ala Moana Hotel when he heard about the union picketing and joined in, today paid a $50 fine in addition to the $50 bail he had posted after he and 25 others spent a short time in jail Wednesday.

Members of the union, Local 5 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees, said outside District Court this morning they are seeking support from other unions, as well as community groups and individuals in a fight against what they say is the "globalization" of hotel management aimed at lower benefits for the workers to gain higher profits for international hotel companies.

Hernando Tan, senior vice president of Local 5, said two of the companies the union is negotiating with, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Hilton Hotels Corp., are part of a trend toward globalization that is hurting working people.

"Those companies don't hesitate to use global resources to outdo a small local union," he said. Tan said the union is starting a food drive in case it does have to go on strike.

Local 5 is seeking new labor contracts with the management of the Starwood (Sheraton), Hilton, Ilikai and Ala Moana hotels.