Legislators join hotel protest at Pacific Beach

Yes, the local unions have proved time and time again how effective their strikes and boycotts are in our precarious market in Hawaii...look how successful Times Supermarket meat cutters and Aloha Airlines Pilots are in getting benefits and keeping their company afloat

Negative Image of Hawaii, May cause job loss to many, UNEMPLOYMENT GOES HIGHER and we're in almost a LOSE LOSE Situation.

I can't see how this can be a WIN WIN strategy with having negative campaign about hawaii oversea and to have it in Waikiki.

State of Hawaii Recession again is created by HUMAN

dont interfere with the business process. let them fight it out.
the Legislators has to suck up to the voters. the workers are getting much better than if they went outside the hotel industry.

That's all we need is a bunch of idiot politicians stumping for the unions who line their pockets with campaign money and really just leach off of the workers they claim to represent.
Unions are obsolete and only add to the cost of staying in the hotel. They do not help their workers at all.

I would think that all these companies laying off employees are trying to survive in these economic times: shed the underperformers, seek pay cuts, and/or cut expenses, just to survive. With the strikes and protests, are they trying to shut the business down for good. it sounds like they are "cutting off their nose to spite their face."

Boycott? This is the FIRST place I'd pick to stay at and eat banana!

justtoomuch wrote:

I would think that all these companies laying off employees are trying to survive in these economic times: shed the underperformers, seek pay cuts, and/or cut expenses, just to survive. With the strikes and protests, are they trying to shut the business down for good. it sounds like they are "cutting off their nose to spite their face."

These days you can't just rely on only one skill, you have to be able to adapt, adjust and learn something new. Learn a new skill or trade every year so you're not worried if you'd be laid off/fired etc...That way you have more ways than one, money flowing to you all the time if one job doesn't work. In my opinion it's always good to have a 'back up' plan in these uncertain times. Don't rely on corporations anymore, we're just another pawn in the game. Play the game in your favor and you'll never have to worry about staying at one job for the rest of your life. Nothing is stable anymore. The domino effect will happen more and more.

I'm surprised to see ILWU Local 142 coming out for these Pacific Beach Hotel employees with such solidarity, even getting local legislators involved. It's a 180 degree turnaround from how they supported the Radiologic Technologists at the former St. Francis Medical Center (now Hawaii Medical Center - East) in Liliha in 2001. I remember union business agent Brian Tanaka telling me prior to a level three grievance hearing, "I have to admit, we suck up to management". Does this mean they've changed their tune?

Some of you may think differently if you were one of the workers fired by the hotel for merely being active in the union.

Whether we like it or not, belonging to a union or trying to organize one are not illegal activities. In fact, these are rights protected by law.

The workers at Pac Beach voted for a union three years ago. The hotel refuses to negotiate a contract and fires dozens of workers for their role in organizing a union.

Is that fair?

It is total irresponsibility for elected politicians to get involved with this legal issue within a private business.
A glaring example of how dysfunctional these politicians have become.
Show these pictures as a post card for potential investors who will realize they are up against union supported politicians. Let the legal process decide, not union pressure.

We depend on lawmakers to enact fair laws such as minimum wage, pre-paid health care, workers compensation, family medical leave, to name a few, to protect workers from bad employers. Pacific Beach Hotel has repeatedly broken the law because it knows that our legal system is slow -- that's bad. Politicans supporting workers who have been standing up for their legal rights for six years against a bad employer -- that's good.

Westside Wind wrote:

It is total irresponsibility for elected politicians to get involved with this legal issue within a private business.
A glaring example of how dysfunctional these politicians have become.
Show these pictures as a post card for potential investors who will realize they are up against union supported politicians. Let the legal process decide, not union pressure.

ILWU local 142 leaches groups. I guess you all remember the sugar plantations its was union ILWU, when the plantation shut down, most worker push to take early retirement before there time, what union did cut some of the benefit or even did not give them, I know I have family in this field that went thru this problem about Union, they never get anything for some, there excuse was you get the hourly pay, but the union taking more money from union due every month, right now with aloha union they cant bark laud any more, they are lying low with there tail tac under behind and waiting for someone screw up and use that to make complain, to all union stewards and representative u can kiss my a*!h. include some of this legislator good for nothing but toget money for there compaign account.

agapito wrote:

Some of you may think differently if you were one of the workers fired by the hotel for merely being active in the union.
Whether we like it or not, belonging to a union or trying to organize one are not illegal activities. In fact, these are rights protected by law.
The workers at Pac Beach voted for a union three years ago. The hotel refuses to negotiate a contract and fires dozens of workers for their role in organizing a union.
Is that fair?

its is more than fair, for guy want union.

I think it's great that our elected leaders are stepping up to support the workers who make our tourism economy flourish.

Pacific Beach is a repeat law-breaker who defies US labor law, violates workers' rights, and offends community standards of fair treatment of workers.

HTH's press release contained quotes gathered from workers in "one-on-one conversations." Sounds like even more you say employer coercion.

O.K. I think this the right thing for these Legislator's to do, however how is this any different from the mass lay-off's and firings at the "Ilikai" by "Anekona/Brian Anderson?" "What's good for the Goose (Hiyashi) is good for the Gander (Anderson)!"

HTH is bad news!!!!!!!! Have you ever tried renting an apartment from them? Vicious, very vicious.

more political grandstanding in an election year by these CAREER politicians..come on Hawaii lets all get together and vote every incumbent out...and don't let them fool us with their musical chair games i.e..moving form City Council to state gov't...or from from one appointment to another ..or like Abercrombie eyeing the Governors mansion..and Mufi watering at the mouth to get to Washington..don't think that is happening?..stay tuned..

Hotel industry is the biggest money-making in hawaii. they charge luxury prices and hotel owners make millions. You think they're gonna pay housekeepers fair wages out of the kindness of their hearts?! Wake up! The only way housekeepers, cooks, waiters or bellman are gonna make a living is by having a union so they have some power to demand their fair share! Anyone who's against unions just wants everyone in Hawaii who's a regular worker to work two jobs and live with their parents their whole life!

If you care about workers losing hours because of the international boycott, then call or write repeat federal-offender HTH Corp. to demand they follow the law NOW, and not after years of legal maneuvering fail them yet again. The situation stinks, but blame the perpetrator--HTH Corp.--not the victims and their defenders in the community.

HTH has always been bad news. Greed, pure greed!!!!!!!!