Turtle Bay Resort
sues hotel union Local 5
over picketing

The owners and managers of the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu are asking a court to prohibit union employees from picketing at the entrance to the property.

Kuilima Resort Co., TBR Property LLC and Benchmark Hospitality International sued yesterday in state Circuit Court, alleging that 80 members of Unite Here Local 5 intimidated employees and guests and disrupted traffic during a picket last month.

The suit claims that Unite Here is planning another picket around the time of the resort's annual Honu Festival this weekend.

The suit asks the court to require picketers to stay across Kamehameha Highway from the entrance to the resort. The suit also seeks to ban the use of bullhorns during picketing.

The hotel and the union have been at odds for several years over contract negotiations. The union called for a consumer boycott of the hotel in 2003.

Local 5 will oppose the suit, which is an effort to stop the picketing, union spokesman Jason Ward said yesterday.

"I don't think we would consider moving our picket across the street," Ward said.

"We'd be happy to picket in front of the hotel instead of on the highway."

Ward wouldn't say whether a picket is planned for the weekend. "I can't say that we won't."