Around 2,000 unionized workers at Hawaii’s largest hotel, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, went on strike, joining thousands of hotel employees in other US cities, the Associated Press reports.
The workers, represented by the UNITE HERE union, are demanding higher wages, reduced workloads, and the restoration of services that were cut during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as daily room cleaning.
The strike at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the largest Hilton hotel in the world, began at 5 a.m. on Tuesday and is open-ended. Hilton representatives have not yet commented on the strike.
Guests staying at the resort woke up to the sounds of drumming, whistles, and chanting as workers marched outside the hotel with signs reading “One Job Should Be Enough.” The slogan reflects the reality that many residents of Hawaii, one of the most expensive states to live in, must work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Greg and Kerrie Sellers, visitors from Australia, said they heard the protest from their hotel room.
“We’re sympathetic to the cause,” Greg Sellers noted.
He compared the situation to better working conditions in Australia.
The strike in Hawaii is part of a broader movement affecting over 4,000 hotel workers striking at Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott hotels in Honolulu, San Diego, and San Francisco. Workers have stated they will remain on strike until new contracts are secured, with the union warning of more strikes to come.
Aileen Bautista, a housekeeper at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, shared that she has three jobs to support her family and expressed her determination to stay on strike until demands are met. Fellow worker Estella Fontanilla emphasized the importance of daily housekeeping, noting that rooms are much harder to clean after several days.
The strike could lead to service disruptions at the hotel. The union has warned that striking hotels may reduce services while operating with minimal staff, potentially affecting housekeeping, restaurant services, and pool hours.
This strike follows other labor disputes in Hawaii, including a recent one-day strike by nurses at Kapi‘olani Medical Center. On Tuesday, Hawaii Governor Josh Green urged both hospital and union leaders to pursue federal mediation in order to resolve ongoing disputes.
