August 5th, 2010
As a union that has long stood for full equality for LGBT people, UNITE HERE International Union hails today’s federal court decision striking down California’s Proposition 8. UNITE HERE agrees with Judge Walker’s decision that Proposition 8 violates due process and equal protection guaranteed under the Constitution.
UNITE HERE President John W. Wilhelm noted, “We have long stood with the LGBT community in the fight for full equality. We see the Proposition 8 decision as a basic issue of economic justice. We count among our members many LGBT workers in California whose basic dignity was re-affirmed today. Due to Judge Walker’s historic decision, LGBT workers will now enjoy the same basic respect and dignity as all other Californians as well as the economic fairness that true equality brings. We were proud to be part of the fight to defeat Proposition 8 in 2008 and are overjoyed to see today’s ruling.”
Cleve Jones, longtime LGBT activist and UNITE HERE organizer, is on the Advisory Board of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, the group that filed the case in today’s decision.
Cleve Jones noted, “Judge Walker’s decision to overturn Proposition 8 is a proud day for LGBT people and Californians who believe in fairness and equality. Still, despite Judge Walker’s ruling, LGBT people remain second class citizens throughout the U.S. and have little to no access to rights and services granted by the Federal Government. Today we celebrate the overturning of the discriminatory Proposition 8, but tomorrow we continue to fight for civil rights granted by the Federal Government. To win full civil rights on the Federal level we must continue to cultivate allies in the Labor Movement, Latino and African-American communities and among low wage workers.”
UNITE HERE was among the first International Unions to endorse full civil marriage rights for all Americans and continues to be part of efforts to expand equality for LGBT Americans on the federal level. UNITE HERE contributed to the 2008 effort to defeat Proposition 8.
July 28th, 2010
For Immediate Release
July 28, 2010
Media Contact:
Cade Watanabe
Office: (808) 941-2141
Mobile: (808) 896-1502
cwatanabe@unitehere5.org
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Honolulu – The Political Action Committee and Executive Board of UNITE HERE! Local 5 — a local labor organization representing over 10,500 hotel, health care, and food service workers throughout the State has voted to endorse former State Senator Gary Hooser in his bid to become Hawaii’s next Lieutenant Governor.
Citing his clear record in support of Hawaii’s working families, Joli Tokusato, a worker at the Ilikai Hotel for the last 20 years and chair of Local 5’s Political Action Committee said, “There’s one candidate in this race with experience we can count on, and that’s Gary Hooser. Senator Hooser is the only neighbor island candidate and the only one with leadership experience on the both the county and state levels. He knows our issues and listens to our concerns because he understands the value of hard work.”
Rod Kane, a cook at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani hotel added, “I’m proud of our Union’s endorsement of Gary Hooser because he’s consistently stood with us on the front lines of fighting for good jobs for this community. He was there for us at Turtle Bay, in our campaign at the Royal Kona Resort on the Big Island, and our statewide hotel and Kaiser campaigns as well.”
“Working families in every community around our State are feeling the squeeze, yet more and more money is being sucked out of our State while wealthy corporations continue to use the economy as an excuse to hurt workers. In this economy and in this election, we need a real leader who will work with us to defend our community and stand up for the little guy, not another typical politician; we need real experience, and not just talk or a catchy campaign slogan; we need Gary Hooser as our next Lieutenant Governor,” added Tokusato.
July 25th, 2010
Yesterday (July 22) was a great day for UNITE HERE… an unprecedented day for our Union.
Thousands of hotel workers in 15 cities across North America — Boston, Chicago, Hawaii, Indianapolis, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Miami, Pittsburgh, Rosemont (IL), San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Toronto, and Vancouver — demonstrated at Hyatt hotels, protesting the company’s efforts to lock our members and non-union workers permanently into the recession. As part of these actions, hundreds of workers and their supporters were arrested in acts of non-violent civil disobedience.
Women from the Hyatt 100 in Boston, who are nearing the one year anniversary of Hyatt’s mass firing were arrested outside the Hyatt Regency there. In seven North American cities where Hyatt is the employer most committed to destroying the Union standard in citywide contract negotiations, thousands demonstrated and hundreds were arrested. Hyatt workers and their supporters in public organizing campaigns at five non-union Hyatts stood up to the Pritzkers and Hyatt. And in four other cities, workers with Hyatts in their towns joined the North America-wide actions.
I encourage you to review the collection of press coverage from all over both countries. The breadth of coverage and the strength of our message is extraordinary.
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INDIANAPOLIS
VANCOUVER
TORONTO
SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO: INDEPENDENT VIDEOS
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HONOLULU
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U.K.
May 9th, 2010
On Monday, May 3, 2010 the UNITE HERE Local 5 2010 Officer Elections Committee conducted the Nominations Meeting at the Local 5 office.
Only one (1) candidate was nominated for each of the Local 5 Officer and Trustee positions.
Following the Nominations Meeting, the Election judged that they all had been in continuous good standing for at least twenty-four (24) consecutive months.
Therefore, this Election Committee finds that the UNITE HERE Local 5 2010 Officer Election has been decided. The term of office for the new Local 5 Executive Board begins in July, 2010.
| Financial Secretary-Treasurer |
Eric Gill |
| President |
Hernando Tan |
| Senior Vice-President |
Godfrey Maeshiro |
| Executive Board At-Large |
Evelyn Marcelino
Michael McGurn
Loreta Tactay |
| Food & Beverage Division |
Carol Woo |
| Hospital Division |
Joyce Griffin |
| Hotel Division |
Adore Udani |
| County of Hawaii |
Maggie Larson |
| County of Kauai |
Angela Prigge |
| County of Maui |
Joyce Tihada |
| Trustee |
Rita Ikeda
Margaret Sato
Debbie Tabar |
Download the Election Results as a PDF
April 18th, 2010
A Notice of Nomination and Election for the 2010 Local 5 Officer election has been mailed to every member in good standing. Available for download are the 2010 Nomination Meeting Notice and 2010 Nomination Form.
December 17th, 2009
Our latest bulletin is up! Download it here.
October 13th, 2009
Unite Here! has co-sponsored the publishing of this advertisement, an open letter urging the US Senate to consider what’s really at stake in the health care debate.
Click the image below to see a larger version and read our letter. You can also download the letter as a PDF.
