A historic solidarity agreement between the two unions that represent most of Hawaii hotel workers will give the unions more power and leverage in negotiating fair labor agreements with the major corporations that now dominate the world’s hotel industry. Large hotel corporations have become gigantic hotel companies by building more hotels and buying out smaller chains.

Ten hotel corporations now own or manage over 82 percent of the hotel rooms and properties in the world. Among the top ten are Hilton, Starwood, and Hyatt hotels that own or manage many Hawaii hotels and have labor agreements with ILWU Local 142 and UNITE HERE Local 5. There is a growing trend where policies that come out of corporate headquarters will dictate the terms of local labor agreements and set the policies of local hotels. To face this corporate power, unions like the ILWU and Local 5 need to work closer together to defend, maintain, and improve labor standards for their members.

The Solidarity Agreement between the national presidents of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the UNITE HERE Union will expand cooperation and mutual assistance as the two unions negotiate collective bargaining agreements with the Hilton, Starwood, and Hyatt hotel chains.

Unity among hotel workers 
The Solidarity Agreement calls for the ILWU and UNITE HERE

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