Strike begins for 5,000 hotel workers in Waikiki, Kauai this Labor Day weekend

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - More than 5,000 hotel workers on Oahu and Kauai began a three-day strike Sunday morning.

UNITE HERE Local 5 members began striking at 4 a.m. after months of contract negotiations at seven Waikiki hotels and one Kauai hotel. They said they will be on the picket line 24 hours a day through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday.

The hotels include the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, the Hyatt Regency, Moana Surfrider, The Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, Sheraton Waikiki, Waikiki Beach Marriott, and the Sheraton Kauai Resort.

The union said it is not close to an agreement with the hotels. Wages, staffing, and fair workloads are the workers’ top concerns.

In a statement sent to Hawaii News Now on Monday, Hilton Hawaiian Village said it makes every effort to maintain a “cooperative” and “productive” relationship with the union that represents workers.

“We respect the union and team members’ right to express their points of view, and we remain committed to negotiating in good faith to reach a fair and reasonable agreement that is beneficial to both our valued team members and to our hotel,” a spokesperson said.

It comes as UNITE HERE workers in five other U.S. cities also began action this Labor Day weekend.

This story will be updated.