“unity lei” from ti leaves as a show
of solidarity
These creative actions were made possible through the Negotiating Committee’s decision not to extend their collective bargaining agreement. This decision marks a shift in practice for the Union and was discussed with all FTOs at the March Full time Officer training. Without a contract in place, the “no strike/ no picket clause” is not in effect, freeing up union members to align various actions with both the timing and the temperature of negotiations. Member education was provided by the Negotiating Committee so that everyone understood what not having a contract means and did not mean.
Members at The Grand Wailea are now forming a Mobilizing Committee, made up of different department members who will soon take over action planning from the Negotiating Committee. They will work closely with negotiations and plan actions to build member strength and support or respond to negotiation sessions.
These creative actions were made possible through the Negotiating Committee’s decision not to extend their collective bargaining agreement. This decision marks a shift in practice for the Union and was discussed with all FTOs at the March Full time Officer training. Without a contract in place, the “no strike/ no picket clause” is not in effect, freeing up union members to align various actions with both the timing and the temperature of negotiations. Member education was provided by the Negotiating Committee so that everyone understood what not having a contract means and did not mean.
Members at The Grand Wailea are now forming a Mobilizing Committee, made up of different department members who will soon take over action planning from the Negotiating Committee. They will work closely with negotiations and plan actions to build member strength and support or respond to negotiation sessions.
The Grand Wailea Maui is among
Hawaiʻi’s top three most profitable
hotels. It is owned by BRE (Blackstone
Real Estate) Iconic Holdings, which
also owns the Ritz Carlton Kapalua,
the Waikoloa Hilton, and the King
Kamehameha Hotel in Kona. The
Grand Wailea negotiations will surely
set the tone for the remainder of the
BRE-owned ILWU hotels, which
will begin negotiations within the
next year.
The staff mobilizing team has already begun working with the Hawaiʻi Island Division to support mobilizing for the Hilton Waikoloa, the Maunakea Beach Hotel, the Hapuna Beach Hotel, and the Fairmont Orchid, all of which have contracts expiring this year.
Following the rally, the Committee resumed negotiations. Significant progress was made on non-cost items, but by the end of the session, the Committee and the company needed to be closer to the economic proposals to settle.
The staff mobilizing team has already begun working with the Hawaiʻi Island Division to support mobilizing for the Hilton Waikoloa, the Maunakea Beach Hotel, the Hapuna Beach Hotel, and the Fairmont Orchid, all of which have contracts expiring this year.
Following the rally, the Committee resumed negotiations. Significant progress was made on non-cost items, but by the end of the session, the Committee and the company needed to be closer to the economic proposals to settle.
Horns and chants filled the air in
Wailea, Maui, on the cool sunny
morning of April 23rd as upwards
of 150 ILWU members rallied for
a fair contract. The third round of
negotiations was set to transpire two
days later. Members at The Grand
Wailea Maui wanted to show the
company that they were both unified
and committed to getting the contract
they deserve. Another hundred
members turned out that afternoon for
round two of the sign-waiving action.
in the last issue of The Voice, a super
majority of The Grand’s members
signed a commitment petition and
began wearing ILWU buttons to
work. Just a week following the sign
waiving rally of the 23rd, members
commemorated both Lei Day and
International Workers Day with an
action on Wailea Beach, directly
fronting the hotel. Here, members
held “mini rallies” on the beach with
Union chants and member
speeches. They handed
out postcards to guests,
inviting them to sign their
name on a banner that read
“I support Grand Wailea
Workers.”
“We are truly committed to getting
a fair and just contract,” said Unit
Chair and Negotiating Committee
member Michelle Takahara. “We’re
not just settling for the first thing the
company offers, even if it’s decent. We
have a well-thought-out and justified
floor that will help our members
stay in the islands without having
to work three jobs. We know it will
take some time to get there, and we
are mobilizing members to help us
get there together.”
The Committee held two
member meetings at Kamaole
Beach Park following the last round
of negotiations. Members were
encouraged to continue mobilizing
their departments and emphasize
strict contract enforcement. The
Unit had 14 members attend the May
steward training in Wailuku in order
to help tighten things up on the shop
floor leading up to the next round of
negotiations, expected sometime near
the end of June.
“When I say Union, you say Power!
Union! Power! Union! Power!”
blaired from the bullhorn held by
Kelly Stutzman, Unit Treasurer at The
Grand. Stutzman is also the Secretary
of the Unit’s Negotiating Committee
and has been working hard to ensure
that the nearly 900 member Unit
feels connected to the negotiation
process.”We’ve been sending weekly
negotiation updates to our members,
which has gone a long way in pulling
everyone in and preventing rumors
from spreading. It’s helping us feel
like we’re all together and makes
mobilizing a lot more successful.”
And mobilize they have. As reported
“God bless the workers,”
“Go! Go! Go!” and “I’m
here to support fair wages.
Thanks for the great
vacation, guys!” were
among the added messages
that hotel guests wrote on
the banner. Unit members
even invited guests to help
them weave an all-worker
