By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor
KA‘ANAPALI, Maui — Housekeepers at Royal Lahaina Resort walked off the job yesterday as contract negotiations between the ILWU and hotel management entered their 10th month.
The one-day walkout was in response to the hiring of non-union employees to do housekeeping work, according to ILWU spokesman Gordon Lafer.
According to Local 142 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, the hotel is training the workers to take over housekeeping duties in the event of a longer walkout.
The Royal Lahaina responded that it has been working with outside contractor Pacific Window Cleaners to familiarize the company with housekeeping operations "in preparation for a future strike."
"The hotel has not hired any nonbargaining unit employees, nor have we displaced or reduced work opportunity for bargaining unit employees," said human resources director Stacy Casco.
Royal Lahaina officials said they are offering a pay and benefit package superior to those offered by other Maui hotels of the same size. The hotel says the ILWU rejected its latest offer made Feb. 12 that included a new incentive of a $200 signing bonus.
The union says that despite a boom in tourism, the hotel won’t restore wage cuts the employees agreed to during leaner years in the 1990s.
The two sides last met Feb. 15. Negotiations are on hold while management responds to a union request for information. The contract expired May 31. Union members voted Feb. 2 to suspend the contract.
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