Hotel union extends talks
| • | Dock negotiators at least talking again |
By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer
The union representing 4,000 hotel workers extended its contract talks yesterday with management of Sheraton hotels as representatives for both sides worked to avert a possible strike.
Talks between Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 5 and Sheraton parent Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. broke off about 3 a.m. yesterday morning, and resumed about 10 a.m.
Talks continued all day yesterday, and were still going on as of early last night.
"There was progress made on some issues but we're still a very, very long way off on some other very key issues," said Local 5 spokesman Jason Ward. "We have to see how the talks go."
Ward said talks with Hilton management that had been scheduled for yesterday have been postponed to allow talks with Starwood to continue.
"We're going to continue to negotiate until there's no more progress being made," he said.
Officials did not characterize the tone of the talks or what the remaining sticking points might be, but the extension could indicate a positive sign.
"There still are issues that need to be resolved, but just the fact that they're continuing to talk is a very good sign," said Starwood spokesman David Uchiyama.
The extension comes as union officials said this week that a strike may be imminent at the five Waikiki hotels represented by Starwood and Hilton as union leaders have grown increasingly pessimistic about contract negotiations that started in March.
Ward said on Tuesday that the main sticking points in the negotiations were wage increases, workloads, subcontracting terms and medical coverage.
A Hilton official declined to comment on the talks, and an attorney representing the company could not be reached. Uchiyama said it is premature to talk about the possibility of a strike.
The specter of a strike comes at a crucial time for Hawai'i's fragile tourism industry. Hotels have slowly been able to improve occupancy rates but often at the expense of cutting daily room rates and offering deep discounts.
Any job action could affect the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the Sheraton Waikiki, Princess Ka'iulani, Sheraton Moana Surfrider and Royal Hawaiian hotels.
Both sides in recent days have begun increasing preparations in the event of a strike. On Monday, the union opened a strike headquarters; yesterday, Starwood established a communications center to use in a strike.
The last major hotel workers' strike in Hawai'i was in 1990 and lasted 22 days, according to Local 5 officials. The union also came close to a strike last year.
Reach Kelly Yamanouchi at 535-2470 or at kyamanouchi@honoluluadvertiser.com.
