Workers bannered and leafleted at the offices of two different companies who provide scabs to inform the public about how they are hurting our community.
Guests continue to come to the line to show their support, like these guests who donated snacks at the sign in table.
10/25 – Solidarity March from Sheraton Waikiki to the Village 10/25 at 5:00pm
10/28 – AFL-CIO food distribution @ 11-1pm (strikers must sign up online) Please be sure to arrive at your designated time. Boxes are limited to 1 per striking Hilton member with a confirmation number via your email once you are signed up.
The impact our strike is getting harder for Hilton to ignore. Every guest refund, every cancelled reservation, and every event that gets relocated because of the strike is forcing Hilton to start taking us seriously.
This week, HMSA announced they are moving their annual employee event with 1,400 guests from the Hilton Hawaiian Village to a different venue because of our strike. HMSA recognized that many of their employees have family members and friends who are on strike and crossing our picket line to attend the event would mean turning their backs on them.
HMSA’s event cancellation is just one example of Hilton being hurt by our strike. Other unions like ILWU Local 142 and the District Council of Ironworkers have canceled or relocated events out of the Hilton in solidarity with Local 5 workers. Congresswoman Jill Tokuda, Governor Green, and many other elected officials have made it known publicly that they are on our side in this fight. Then, there are the guests demanding refunds and holding their own rallies in the lobby.
Right now, Hilton is testing us. Hilton management is probably wondering “Can these guys last a month? Can they last two months? Will they cave? How will they pay their bills? They will probably get tired and quit any day now.” But the truth is, management does not realize how tough we are, how much our community has our back, and how our Union has a strategy and has been preparing for this fight for a long time now.
Hotel owners and management underestimate the strength and support we provide one another on the picket line, they underestimate the power of solidarity. The bond of solidarity that we share is something they can never break.
The time for us to settle for the peanuts they have offered us so far is long gone. What would be the consequences of accepting a weak, diluted settlement that doesn’t support us or respect us? The hotel management would think we have NO TEETH and they can treat us however they want in the future. But that’s not going to happen, because you’ve been strong, holding the line, hitting ’em where they feel it, namely their bank accounts! We’re in it to win it, however long it takes. One day longer, one day stronger.
About UNITE HERE Local 5
Local 5 represents 10,000 workers throughout Hawaii who work in the hospitality, health care and food service industries and is an affiliate of UNITE HERE, an international union that represents over 250,000 workers throughout the U.S. and Canada.
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