Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort workers ratify new contract
Workers will receive a raise and increased healthcare funding from the hotel.
An overwhelming 99 percent of the 288 union hotel workers at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort voted to ratify a new contract that will bring the workers a pay raise and better healthcare benefits for themselves and their families.
“It’s a step in the right direction so that we can catch up to the union standard that other Local 5 hotels have,” said Oren Yamagata, a bell captain who has worked at Waikoloa Marriott for 33 years. “We can achieve this if we all continue to stand together.”
Under the terms of the new two-year contract, non-tipped workers at the Waikoloa Marriott will receive wage increases of $1.67 per hour for two years, with full back pay to July 1, 2014. This is $0.27 more than the first two years of the current industry standard five-year contract, helping to narrow the gap between Waikoloa and Waikīkī hotel wages. Waikoloa Marriott management has also agreed to increase its contribution to the health & welfare fund, which funds the medical and pension benefits of union workers.
“This is a much needed wage increase for us,” said Peter Fukuyama, who has worked in the engineering department at the Waikoloa Marriott for 10 years.
The Waikoloa Marriott was recently purchased by SMG I Hotel Waikoloa LLC, a joint venture between continental U.S. hotel investment firms Silverwest Hotel Partners LLC, Mariner Real Estate Management, and an affiliate of Global Endowment Management. Marriott will continue to manage the hotel. The ownership change will not affect UNITE HERE! Local 5 members at Waikoloa Marriott.
