The University of Hawaii spent tens of thousands of dollars to postpone its annual Healthy Workforce Summit four days from its scheduled start due to a hotel workers strike.
The event takes place on September 7 and has been held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort for the past 10 years. Because of the strike, school officials moved the meeting to the John A. Burns Medical College campus.
There are no changes to meetings and schedules. The university also asked attendees not to stay at any hotels participating in the ongoing strike.
The costs associated with last-minute changes can quickly add up: Hilton has issues with its deposit. According to local Hawaii news station KHON, tents had to be set up and food and drinks arranged for the relocated meeting.
Hilton Hawaiian Village did not respond to a request for comment.
Contract agreement has not yet been reached
Although Oahu’s more than 5,000 hotel workers have ended a three-day strike, a contract agreement has yet to be reached. Workers are calling for higher wages, more staffing and a reversal of COVID-era cuts to guest services.
“The strike issue in Honolulu has not been resolved. Negotiations are ongoing. If the issue remains unresolved, more strikes could occur at any time,” Unite Here spokesman Ted Waechter said.
Affected Hawaii hotels include the Sheraton Kauai Resort and seven Waikiki hotels: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort; Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa; Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort and Spa; and Royal Hawaiian Luxury Collection Resorts; Sheraton Princess Kailani; Sheraton Waikiki; and Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
Hotel strikes aren’t just happening in Hawaii. Workers also went on strike in Boston, Greenwich, San Diego, San Francisco, Baltimore, Seattle and San Jose.
