Unite Here Local 5 union employees returned to work at Waikiki's Hilton Hawaiian Village Oct. 19 after a five-day strike. The walkout was part of a national Hotel Workers Rising Campaign that included employees in Chicago and San Francisco currently bargaining for similar contract improvements.
The Hilton Hawaiian Village strike drew added media attention when the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, which plans to hold a Nov. 14 to 17 conference in Honolulu scheduled to bring 28,000 room nights to Oahu properties, threatened to cancel the event entirely rather than cross Unite Here Local 5 picket lines.
That announcement prompted a letter from Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle to the foundation assuring it that Unite Here Local 5 efforts wouldn't disrupt their November event.
While the group has confirmed its conference will go on, the union has not promised to avoid labor activity during the event, according to a report in the Honolulu Star Advertiser.
Hilton Hawaiian Village representatives are scheduled to return to the bargaining table Oct. 25 and 26, the Advertiser said. About 6,000 Local 5 hotel employees at Hilton, Hyatt and Starwood properties across Hawaii have been working without a contract since June 30.