“11 years! One raise! Fair Contract NOW!” This chant sums up the injustice faced by the Pacific Beach Hotel workers who won an election to be represented by the ILWU over two years ago and are still struggling to get a fair contract with their employer—the HTH Corporation. HTH also owns King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Resort on the Big Island and the Pagoda Hotel in Honolulu.

The July 10, 2006, march and rally of Pacific Beach workers and over 300 supporters was loud and spirited. They chanted, sang, and made a lot of noise as they marched up and down Lili‘uokalani Avenue in Waikiki which runs along one side of the 837 room hotel. About 150 of the supporters were participants from local and mainland unions who were attending the Summer Institute for Union Women (SIUW).

Participants in the Summer Institute for Union Women’s “How to Mobilize for an Action” class made signs and banners and developed chants for the Pacific Beach rally. ILWU member Velda “Pua” Akamu from the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel (second from right) made the banner shown above.

The rally was held right in front of the hotel.

SIUW participants gather in front of the ILWU to catch a bus to the rally in Waikiki. ILWU members like Ruby Shimabukuro from Unit 4405 - Foodland Super Market Ltd. (standing, third from right) came on their own time to help support Pacific Beach workers.

Virginia Recaido (above left) and Guillerma Ulep (above right) address SIUW participants before the Pacific Beach rally. Many SIUW participants were moved to tears as the two women explained that they want a fair contract to better the lives of their fellow workers and their family members. They received a standing ovation.

Summer Institute for Union Women held in Honolulu

HONOLULU—The 25th Annual Western Regional Summer Institute for Union Women (SIUW) was held July 7-11, 2006 at the Ala Moana Hotel. 153 union workers—including ten from ILWU Local 142—came together to learn important skills, meet other union sisters and build solidarity around important labor issues.

Intensive core classes were offered on Basic Leadership Skills, Advanced Leadership Skills, Uniting for Action on Big Issues, Organizing Contract Campaigns, and Basic Grievance Handling. Short workshops included Talking to Management, How to Organize a Union Action, Workplace Discrimination, and much more.

The highlight of the Institute took place on Monday, July 10 when participants did two actions—a demonstration at the Pacific Beach Hotel in support of ILWU members, and the delivery of a petition and sign-holding at the Hilton Hawaiian Village for UNITE HERE Local 5 hotel workers.

SIUW participants were joined by leaders from other local unions such as IBEW and the Teamsters at the Pacific Beach rally, where chants of “11 years, 1 raise, fair contract now!” and “Hotel workers under attack— what you gonna do? Stand up! Fight back!” rang out in front of the hotel.

SIUW participants came from 23 different unions, including the Musicians Union, the British Columbia Government Employees Union, Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA), ILWU, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Teamsters, United Auto Workers (UAW), and United Public Workers (UPW). ◆