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KHON2 – United Airlines flight attendants said they’re ready to strike.
The announcement comes after workers at several hotels also declared they’re on the verge of striking. Now, state officials are waiting to see if these labor negotiations will have any impacts on Hawaii’s tourism industry.
United Airlines flight attendants shared their frustrations at 19 different airports across the nation Wednesday morning including at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
The company has about 25,000 flight attendants, 300 of which are based in Honolulu. Employees voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike saying they deserve improvements in pay and work rules.
“Flight attendants are having to live in their cars,” stated Kevin Batey, Association of Flight Attendants Executive Council President. “It used to be that this job was enough to live on for one person, but now that’s no longer the case.”
A statement from United Airlines said, “We continue to work toward an industry-leading agreement for our flight attendants, including negotiations this week and every month through November. Both sides have been actively engaged in these negotiations facilitated by the federal mediator requested by the union. We remain eager to reach an agreement.”According to the company, there has been no work stoppage or labor disruption. Off-duty flight attendants exercised their right to conduct an informational picket. Federal law bars a strike until after a lengthy process, which includes a release from mediation that can only be granted by the National Mediation Board, per United.
“Their management is paying themselves millions of dollars in bonuses,” said Batey. “We play a huge part in the success that United is experiencing right now. We just want our fair share of that success.”
Workers have been in negotiations for the past three years, per Batey. The strike authorization vote comes days after thousands of hotel workers announced they’re ready to walk out of the job. “We feel disrespected and I’m pretty sure our guests don’t feel respected as well,” stated Rodney Y. Nakashima, Sheraton Waikiki Grounds Keeper. “Our tourism industry is supposed to provide for us. It’s our number one industry here in Hawaii. I want to be able to give them all the aloha, not just 80% because they took away 20% of the amenities.”
State officials say they are monitoring hotel and airline labor negotiations closely for potential impacts on travelers. A joint statement from the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) and the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) stated, “We are hopeful that both sides will come to an amicable resolution.”
“I hear [guests] complaining about the quality of service, waiting in line, and that never happened before. That’s staffing– [they’re] not staffing appropriately to where we can service them,” said Nakashima.
KHON2 reached out to the four major hotel groups, which include the Hyatt, Hilton, Kyo-ya, and Marriott that oversee the seven Waikiki hotels and one hotel on Kauai involved in the potential strikes.
A statement from the Hyatt said, “While negotiations continue, we have plans in place so that hotel operations are not impacted by any demonstrations and expect to continue to provide all services.”