By Christie Wilson
Advertiser Neighbor Island Editor
KA‘ANAPALI, Maui — Contract talks between Royal Lahaina Resort and ILWU Local 142 are on hold while management responds to a union request for information.
The two sides met yesterday and will schedule another session at a later date, according to ILWU representative Gordon Lafer. The union represents about 300 Royal Lahaina workers.
Although the talks have paused, the union continued to press its case in public, scheduling an informational picket last night at the Sheraton Waikiki, where Pleasant Travel Service Chairman Ed Hogan was inducted into the Hawai‘i Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement. Hogan's company owns the Royal Lahaina Resort.
Earlier in the week, hotel employees staged a two-day walkout to protest what the ILWU says are management violations of the National Labor Relations Act.
Royal Lahaina officials responded Wednesday that they are puzzled why the union would object to a wage increase for hotel employees implemented last week. The union charged the company with unilaterally imposing contract terms while negotiations are ongoing.
Managers also denied adding work duties without consulting the ILWU and a separate complaint that an employee was threatened with losing company-owned housing if a strike were to occur. They said a supervisor who lives in the housing suggested to his roommate, a nonsupervisory worker, that if a strike were called, it might be better to live elsewhere since coming and going from the apartment would mean crossing a picket line.
Among the items being negotiated are pay rates, tips, and wording in the contract guaranteeing the agreement would remain in effect under a new owner, should the resort be sold.
Negotiations between the ILWU and the Royal Lahaina have been under way since the contract expired May 31. Union members voted Feb. 2 to suspend the contract.
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