Nearly 1,000 workers from Unite Here Local 5 demonstrated outside major Waikiki hotels on Tuesday, demanding new contracts that provide “living wages, fair workloads and adequate staffing to ensure quality service.”
The pickets took place in front of the Sheraton Waikiki, Royal Hawaiian, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and Hilton Hawaiian Village hotels. More than 100 workers in red shirts marched through the lobby, some shouting into bullhorns and clenching their fists.
Local 5 officials said a strike vote would be held on August 8 and that it could happen at any time if workers voted to strike.
In April, collective bargaining began between Local 5 and Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International. Since then, collective bargaining agreements for over 4,800 Hawaiian hotel workers represented by Local 5 on Oahu, Kauai and Maui expired on June 30, and six other agreements covering over 1,000 workers are set to expire soon.
The Waikiki picket coincided with actions by thousands of other Unite Here hotel workers in cities across the U.S. and Canada where negotiations are underway with Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott.
“Tourism is Hawaii’s most important industry, but the people who work there cannot afford to live in Hawaii,” Wendy Perez, a guest services representative at the Waikiki Beach Marriott, said in a statement.
According to Local 5, in Hawaii, the average daily rate for a hotel room increased 33% in 2023 compared to 2019, and revenue per available room increased 23%.
Cade Watanabe, Local 5’s financial secretary and treasurer, said in a statement, “Will Hawaii continue to be a world-class destination or not? We will not allow our mainland owners to destroy our industry by depriving us of the respect and staff we need to provide the quality of service and guest experience our island visitors expect.”
Michael D’Angelo, Hyatt’s Americas director of labor relations, said in an email, “Our goal is to take care of people so they can do their best work. Our colleagues are the heart of our company and their well-being is always our highest priority. Hyatt has a long history of working with the unions that represent our employees, including UNITE HERE Local 5.”
“Under the recent collective bargaining agreement with UNITE HERE, Hyatt hotels continue to provide competitive wages and benefits, as well as comprehensive health insurance, to our eligible employees,” said D’Angelo. “We look forward to continuing to negotiate a fair contract with UNITE HERE Local 5 and recognizing the contributions of our employees.”
Hilton, Marriott and Kyo-ya did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
