Posted at 4:44 p.m., Thursday, January 4, 2007
Army settles dispute with Hale Koa Hotel workers
Advertiser Staff
The U.S. Army, which owns and operates the Hale Koa Hotel, and hotel workers union UNITE HERE Local 5 have settled a federal lawsuit filed last fall by union representatives, Local 5 said.The suit alleged that hotel management threatened four union representatives with physical force and arrest when they distributed leaflets to off-duty hotel union workers on a Fort DeRussy sidewalk in July. The union argued that the Local 5 representatives' free speech rights were violated.
A consent decree signed by U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway last month allows leafletting, picketing and demonstrations on the sidewalks of Kalia, Maluhia and Dudley roads and in the park areas of Fort DeRussy.
Contract negotiations between Local 5 and Hale Koa are scheduled to begin Jan. 10. The union represents Hale Koa's housekeeping and food and beverage employees. Hale Koa officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.
