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Hotel union
schedules strike vote

More talks are scheduled
with the affected hotels


By Tim Ruel
truel@starbulletin.com

The union that represents Hawaii hotel employees is ramping up for an Aug. 13 strike vote covering the Hilton and Sheraton hotels in Waikiki.

The Local 5 contract negotiating committee voted Monday night to authorize the strike vote, potentially affecting 2,500 workers at four Sheraton hotels and 1,500 workers at Hilton Hawaiian Village, said Jason Ward, researcher for Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 5.

More than half the workers must vote to authorize a strike. It would then be up to union officials to schedule a strike.

"The strike vote was called after yet another frustrating night of negotiations where management failed to address key issues for our future, and instead insisted on proposals that weaken our medical fund, don't protect the current members' future and attack the future members standard of living," said a flier passed out by Local 5.

Local 5's committee negotiated with Hilton yesterday and with Sheraton Monday. Further negotiations are scheduled for Aug. 7, 8 and 9.

Local 5 has been getting increasingly vocal about this year's talks. Last week, union leader Eric Gill and more than two dozen union members were arrested after blocking traffic during a picket in front of Hilton Hawaiian Village. The workers have pleaded innocent to the charges.

A strike vote does not necessarily lead to a strike.

In May, Local 5's sister union in Las Vegas authorized its leadership to call a citywide strike covering thousands of workers at 35 hotel-casinos. But only one hotel had a strike, which lasted eight days and ended earlier this month with a new contract.

Waikiki hotel representatives could not be reached for comment. Local 5 is also seeking new contracts with Hyatt, Ala Moana and Ilikai hotels, though those properties would not be covered by the strike vote.



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