Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
Clear skies over Honolulu and temperatures that approached 90 degrees made for long lines for shave ice and ice cream at the annual Unity House picnic yesterday at Ala Moana Park.
Strike casts shadow on Labor Day picnic
| • | What's open and closed today |
By Allison Schaefers
Advertiser Staff Writer
Carol Ohelo was dealing with a broken leg and loss of income because of the O'ahu Transit Services workers strike, but despite hardships she still joined thousands of union members and their families yesterday to celebrate Labor Day at an annual Unity House picnic.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
"Despite everything, to me this Labor Day picnic is a time to be with family and to get closer to all of the unions," Ohelo said surrounded by her children. "Today is to enjoy. I don't know what's in store tomorrow or in the next week or the next month."
Carol Ohelo, a timekeeper for O'ahu Transit Services, attended yesterday's picnic with her kids, John Olandy, 10, and Terrie-Jean Ohelo, 10. Ohelo skipped the Teamsters picnic at Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park in favor of the Unity House event at Ala Moana Park to protest the union's handling of the ongoing bus workers' strike.
Line dancers boogie to the live music at the Unity House picnic at Ala Moana Park.
Attendance at the annual picnic was down.
The Hawai'i Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996 strike has left thousands of people scrambling for rides and commuters grumbling over rush-hour traffic gridlock. It has also left striking bus workers and their families struggling to make ends meet.
Although the main theme of the picnic was fun, the plight of Ohelo, her husband, Darryl, and the nearly 1,300 bus workers was on the mind of everyone from Gov. Linda Lingle and other politicians to Unity House President Tony Rutledge as they strolled Ala Moana Park visiting with union members and their families.
"I hope the strike is resolved quickly," Lingle said yesterday as she mingled with picnic-goers. "It affects a lot of people who don't have many alternatives, especially those who take the Handi-Vans or those who don't earn much money. There are good points on both sides. I hope they'll soon have the good will enough to come together."
Lingle also took time to sit under a banyan tree and discuss union issues with Rutledge as well as reflect on old times. Lingle once worked as the public information officer for Rutledge's father, the late union leader Art Rutledge, who founded Unity House in 1951.
Union members from the Hawai'i Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 5, Teamsters Local 996, quarry workers and truck drivers Local 681 and Hawai'i members of Local 399 were just a few represented at the AFL-CIO picnic. Many union members, including Sarah Pimentel of 'Ewa Beach, brought their families to the picnic to take advantage of a sunny day off from work, play games and visit.
"We look forward to this picnic all year," said Pimentel, who works at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Others, such as Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, spent time discussing union and state politics between picnic courses.
Abercrombie, who handed out campaign material at the picnic, said the bus strike is a Labor Day reminder of the importance strong unions play in Hawai'i and of their constant struggle.
"It's not always easy," Abercrombie said. "A lot of times you have to struggle for what you want and to keep what you have. This is just a firm reminder that our struggles are not over."
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
Slim Ilae, who plans to challenge Mel Kahele for Teamster president in November, said he and other strikers are well aware of the price workers pay for good wages and benefits — and the struggles to get them.
Gov. Linda Lingle chats with Unity House President Tony Rutledge. Lingle once worked for Rutledge's dad, the late union leader Art Rutledge.
Ilae said he was one of about 300 Teamsters who decided to protest the way union leaders are handling the strike by attending the Unity House picnic instead of their own annual union picnic, which was also held yesterday at Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park.
"We're upset because most of the members who are out on strike don't want to be on strike," Ilae said. "They expected to be working while negotiations were ongoing."
Ohelo said some Teamsters at the Middle Street picket line have even started circulating an anti-strike petition.
"There's a petition being signed on the Middle Street Line to get us back to work," Ohelo said. "Many of us now feel that Mel Kahele is just benefiting himself. He's still getting paid, while we are out on strike."
Kahele, who was one of about 5,000 people to attend the official Teamsters picnic at the water park, said he wasn't aware of a petition or of any crippling dissension in the union.
Teamsters need to put politics aside to concentrate on resolving the strike, he said.
"This Labor Day we join in solidarity with all the workers at home and on the strike lines and around the world to fight for the policies that serve the interests of all working people," Kahele said.
If any conflict exists between union members it's probably being stirred by upcoming union elections, said Teamsters spokesman Chris Boucher. Every three years the union elects new leadership, he said.
"The politics need to be put aside," Boucher said. "We don't want to address the politics at this time."
Reach Allison Schaefers at aschaefers@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8110.
