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Union, Sheraton Kauai agree on 3-year contract
By Blake Jones - The Garden Island
POIPU Workers at the Sheraton Kauai Resort recently voted in favor of a new 3-year contract.
The agreement was reached between Unite Here! Local 5 and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.
Negotiations began late last summer and were punctuated by demonstrations and rallies at the hotel, during which union members asked for wages on par with those of Sheraton’s Waikiki workers.
“With this agreement, Sheraton has stepped up to the plate to pay for great improvements for Sheraton Kauai workers,” said Local 5 representative Daniel Kerwin in a prepared statement. “In return, our members are motivated to work together with the company in the expansion and improvement of this world-class resort.”
Sheraton Kauai Resort General Manager Angela Vento expressed confidence in the agreement and the staff.
“The negotiation team has worked hard to come up with a great agreement,” she said. “We’re happy to have a good resolution.”
The new agreement brings wages and benefits up to the Waikiki standards for the first time since Hurricane Iniki. The agreement also places Local 5 units on Kauai, Maui and Waikiki under a common expiration date in order to position the hotels for a statewide bargaining effort in 2010, according to the union.
Local 5 says the new agreement includes but is not limited to:
Continued funding of premium-free comprehensive medical coverage for active workers and retirees.
A $2.40 wage increase over three years for non-tipped employees, $.70 for tipped employees.
A 15 percent increase in hourly pension contributions.
Continued layoff protection from subcontracting.
Contract language that protects workers’ union contract, jobs, benefits and seniority in the event of a sale.
Job placement during the construction of the timeshare development and renovation of existing areas.
Double-time sick leave pay for tipped employees.
Across-the-board increases in almost every service charge and tip category.
Housekeeping room drops for heavy checkout days and travel.
Ninety-six hours of sick leave accrual per year, up from 80 hours.
Double-time on the next work day if a holiday falls on a scheduled day off.
Protection for immigrants who are not permanent residents; removal of company rules prohibiting workers from conversing in their native languages.
Military leave benefits.
Twelve months of medical coverage, and upon return to work, pension contributions for the entire length of the leave.
The agreement was reached between Unite Here! Local 5 and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.
Negotiations began late last summer and were punctuated by demonstrations and rallies at the hotel, during which union members asked for wages on par with those of Sheraton’s Waikiki workers.
“With this agreement, Sheraton has stepped up to the plate to pay for great improvements for Sheraton Kauai workers,” said Local 5 representative Daniel Kerwin in a prepared statement. “In return, our members are motivated to work together with the company in the expansion and improvement of this world-class resort.”
Sheraton Kauai Resort General Manager Angela Vento expressed confidence in the agreement and the staff.
“The negotiation team has worked hard to come up with a great agreement,” she said. “We’re happy to have a good resolution.”
The new agreement brings wages and benefits up to the Waikiki standards for the first time since Hurricane Iniki. The agreement also places Local 5 units on Kauai, Maui and Waikiki under a common expiration date in order to position the hotels for a statewide bargaining effort in 2010, according to the union.
Local 5 says the new agreement includes but is not limited to:
Continued funding of premium-free comprehensive medical coverage for active workers and retirees.
A $2.40 wage increase over three years for non-tipped employees, $.70 for tipped employees.
A 15 percent increase in hourly pension contributions.
Continued layoff protection from subcontracting.
Contract language that protects workers’ union contract, jobs, benefits and seniority in the event of a sale.
Job placement during the construction of the timeshare development and renovation of existing areas.
Double-time sick leave pay for tipped employees.
Across-the-board increases in almost every service charge and tip category.
Housekeeping room drops for heavy checkout days and travel.
Ninety-six hours of sick leave accrual per year, up from 80 hours.
Double-time on the next work day if a holiday falls on a scheduled day off.
Protection for immigrants who are not permanent residents; removal of company rules prohibiting workers from conversing in their native languages.
Military leave benefits.
Twelve months of medical coverage, and upon return to work, pension contributions for the entire length of the leave.
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earthlore wrote on Feb 23, 2009 3:08 PM:
A woman (an employee) rushed out onto the porch area of the shop, waved her forefinger at us, and shouted, "Uh-uh! You can't park here! Paying customers only!". I called back that we did, indeed, intend to come into her store to shop, she crossed her arms and just looked at us like we were gutter slime.
I wanted to leave immediately, but my girlfriend decided to go in to talk to the owner (who was there). They were completely unapologetic, ("Well, you can shop if you want"), and stared hard at her the entire time she was in the store (which wasn't long, I can assure you).
I don't know what possessed them to treat us this way. We are not hippies or thugs - just tourists carrying around a pocket full of cash looking for someplace to spend it. Maybe it was because we are too young to fit their demographic (I am in my early 30's, and my girlfriend is in her 20's), or possibly because she was wearing an "Obama '08" t-shirt (political differences?), but the way we were treated by the employees and ownership of this business was nothing short of deplorable.
I own a retail business in Michigan myself, and never in a thousand years would I behave this way toward any customer - even if I didn't think they were planning on buying anything. Perhaps this is a luxury you get from doing business on a tourist island - that you can mistreat anybody you feel like, knowing that they will be a thousand miles away in a few days.
This singular experience served to ruin the last couple hours of our vacation, and cast a dark note on the entire trip. I do not, as a practice, write negatively of any business... but we were extremely upset by this. "