Unite Here Local 5: Victory for Hotel Workers Union!
DeShannon Higa’s Bombucha Band performed live New Orleans/Mardi Gras music early this fall in support of striking hotel workers in Waikiki.
Over this past Labor Day weekend, thousands of Unite Here! Local 5 hotel workers went on a three-day strike against eight major Hawaii hotels, including the Sheraton Waikiki, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Moana Surfrider, Princess Kaiulani, and Waikiki Beach Marriott.
Then, on Sept. 24, 2024, 1,800 Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel workers went on a 40-day strike. Through the hotel workers’ unity, sacrifice, and commitment, corporate owners finally agreed to fair wage increases, addressed staffing concerns, working conditions, and job security issues.
Due to the sacrifice and solidarity of the Hilton workers, Local 5 leaders were able to secure similar agreements with the other hotels just one week after the new Hilton contract was ratified.
As a show of support to our labor brothers and sisters, the Musicians’ Association of Hawai’i sent DeShannon Higa’s six-piece Bombucha Band to the picket lines to perform New Orleans/Mardi Gras music, lifting spirits and drawing attention to the cause. Mahalo from Local 5 goes out to Higa, Noel Okimoto, Scott Villiger, Allen Won, Tim Tsukiyama, and Robert Shinoda.
This victory is testament to the power of workers standing together in unity!
From the Winter 2024 issue, Ke Ola O Na Mele