1516 S. King st. Honolulu, HI 96826
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.
81 banquet workers win back tip money
81 Banquet workers at the Sheraton Waikiki won back their tip money! Due to Sheraton Waikiki management’s negligence on over-charging guests, many banquet workers’ tips were illegally expunged to compensate for the employer’s mistake. According to our CBA, we won the hard-earned tip money back to our workers. Pictured here are banquet workers Perfecto, Cathy, […]
Hyatt worker wins inspectress promotion
After years of fighting to get her promotion, Hyatt Regency Waikiki worker Teresita finally got the inspectress position, her seniority, AND $2600 backpay!! Hopefully, this will help show management favoritism doesn’t pay!
Workers, youth delegate Kaiser Board Member Edward Pei
On July 10, a group of 20 students, Kaiser workers, and community members leafleted downtown to raise awareness of the low wages endured by bank workers and encouraged bank workers to take our online survey. They also delegated Edward Pei (Kaiser Permanente Board Member and Executive Director of the Hawaii Bankers Association) and asked him […]
Kahala Resort workers ratify contract
On July 4, workers at The Kahala Resort ratified their new contract with a 99% yes vote. They are the final Local 5 hotel in Waikiki to ratify their contract, meaning all of our Waikiki hotels now have a contract that puts them on the same standard. Their wage increases will be effective as of […]
NLRB dismisses charges against Local 5
As expected, this charge filed against Local 5 by three Hyatt Regency Waikiki workers with the legal assistance of the National Right to Work Foundation was dismissed by the NLRB. The NLRB determined that we sufficiently communicated with Hyatt Regency Waikiki workers regarding the payroll error made by the employer. RTW Foundation has filed charges against […]
2014 IU Delegate Convention
Every 5 years, UNITE HERE locals from all over the U.S.A. and Canada come together for our IU Delegate Convention. 20 delegates represented Local 5 and showed Boston the aloha spirit. The Convention’s theme, “Changing 50,000 More Lives,” was reflected in a program filled with videos, speeches, and more that highlighted how being a union […]
Starwood acknowledges grounds workers should get paid for higher rated work
After being asked to perform higher rated work (construction work) without proper compensation, a group of Grounds workers at the Starwood properties in Waikiki decided to press for negotiations and back pay. On June 17, 2014 they engaged with the General Manager at the Sheraton Waikiki and moved the company to acknowledge that they are […]
Back pay for Moana Surfrider bartender
Yvonne has worked as a bartender for over 20 years at the Westin Moana Surfrider. Recently, she was issued a 10 day suspension because $35 meant to be turned in as a bank drop, instead ended up in a cash drop. Yvonne is an excellent employee with no record of making this error before. The […]
2014 UNITE HERE Delegate Election Rerun
All members in good standing of UNITE HERE Local 5 are notified that there will be a Rerun Election for delegates to the UNITE HERE International Union convention to be held in Boston, Massachusetts on June 25-27, 2014. To be eligible to vote in the rerun election, you must be a member in good standing. […]
Victory against Sound & Light subcontracting
In 2002, many of our hotel contracts were strengthened with new language to fight subcontracting. Recently, Starwood sought to ignore it and planned to outsource the Sound and Light work done at the Sheraton Waikiki and Royal Hawaiian to an outside company called PSAV. The Union filed a grievance and the case went to arbitration. […]