2 more hotels yet to settle contract
By Susan Hooper
Advertiser Staff Writer
The union representing workers at the four Waikiki Sheraton hotels and the Hilton Hawaiian Village may delay a contract ratification vote until two more Waikiki hotels have responded to the union's contract proposals.
Jason Ward, a spokesman for Local 5 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union, said yesterday that the union hopes to have responses from the Hyatt Regent Waikiki Resort & Spa and the Renaissance 'Ilikai Waikiki Hotel "in the next 10 days or so."
Local 5 and Sheraton management reached agreement on a four-year contract Saturday; the union reached a separate agreement with the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Sunday. The union, which represents about 4,000 workers at the five properties, has been in contract talks with the hotels since April.
The union has set Sept. 20 as a "target date" for the ratification vote for Hilton and Sheraton workers, but that date is still tentative, Ward said.
"Ideally, we'd like to be able to ratify the Hyatt and the 'Ilikai (agreements) as well" when Hilton and Sheraton workers vote, he said.
About 500 members of Local 5 work at the Hyatt, a hotel official said. About 300 'Ilikai employees are with Local 5, a union spokesman said.
Frank Lavey, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, said this week that Hyatt officials are reviewing the contract signed with Sheraton and Hilton to see if it's acceptable to them.
"I'm very optimistic that we'll reach an agreement in the near future," he said. "So far, any talks we've had (with the union) have been very cordial."
The agreements that the union reached with Hilton and the four Waikiki Sheraton properties are for a four-year contract, back-dated to June 1, with pay and pension increases, job-security clauses and a five-year plan for bringing subcontractor pay up to the same level as other hotel employee salaries. Both contracts are contingent upon the ratification vote.
Reach Susan Hooper at 525-8064 or shooper@honoluluadvertiser.com.
