Japanese visitors in Waikiki are urged to stay away from the Pacific Beach Hotel as Justice at the Beach supporters leaflet and demonstrate during the Golden Week holiday from April 29 to May 6, 2009. Union members from the Hawaii Ports Maritime Council, the Hawaii Carpenters Union, the Hawaii Government Employees Association, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Hawaii Musicians Association, University of Hawaii Professional Assemby, and the Ironworkers Union turned out the support Pacific Beach Hotel workers during Golden Week.

“Don’t stay at a hotel that breaks the law. This hotel is unfair to workers. Boycott the Pacific Beach Hotel. Justice at the Beach!”

These were messages heard by Waikiki visitors as supporters from various unions and community groups leafleted and demonstrated at the Pacific Beach Hotel during the Golden Week holidays from April 29 to May 6, 2009. Over 4,000 leaflets were passed out to visitors from Japan, the US, Canada and Europe during the demonstrations.

The hotel draws most of its business from Japan, and Golden Week is one of the busiest seasons for Japanese overseas travel.

Japanese unions, including Service Rengo which represents travel agency workers, have been strong and vocal supporters of the workers’ struggle at the Pacific Beach Hotel.

Japanese travel bureaus such as JTB, Kintetsu International, and Nippon Travel Agency are unionized in Japan. The Japanese unions and the ILWU have met with the managers of these agencies and keep them informed about the on-going labor dispute with the hotel owners, HTH Corporation.

Since January 2002, workers of the Pacific Beach Hotel in Waikiki have been fighting for union recognition and a fair contract.

Over this seven year period, a majority of workers voted twice to organize into the ILWU. However, HTH Corporation, which owns the Pacific Beach and Pagoda Hotels, 

—continued on page 2