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Associated Press: John Edwards fights for Hawaii hotel workers

Jun 15, 2006 1:33 PM

Mark Niesse
Associated Press
Jun 15, 2006

HONOLULU - Potential presidential candidate John Edwards rallied a Hawaii hotel workers union Wednesday in its fight for better pay and benefits.

Edwards, a former U.S. senator and vice presidential candidate, said he's "thinking seriously" about running for president in 2008 but hasn't made a decision yet.

"What the country is hungry for is not more politicians. The country is hungry for leadership," Edwards said.

Edwards, 53, spoke to hundreds of cheering union members at a Waikiki beach against a backdrop of tourists bathing in the sun and swimming in the Pacific Ocean.

"You work hard to support your family, and all you're asking is to be treated with dignity and respect," Edwards said. "These multinational hotel chains, they can't make money without you."

The contracts of about 6,500 Hawaii workers at nine hotels are set to expire at the end of the month.

Hotel employees, who are paid an average of $14 an hour, say they deserve to share in the wealth brought on by Hawaii's booming tourism industry.

"Many of these men and women are working two jobs ... so their children can live decent lives," Edwards said. "There's so much at stake in these negotiations."

Leaders of the Unite Here! Local 5 union mentioned the possibility of a strike, but they said negotiations with the Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Sheraton, Kahala and Ilikai hotels are still in early stages.

One housekeeper at the beach rally, Maria Salantes, said the hotels are demanding that employees work harder to accommodate a flood of visitors without receiving anything in return.

"The standard of living here is very high. We deserve our fair share," said Salantes, who works at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Rod Kane, a fry cook at the Sheraton, said the union should stand together to gain concessions from the hotel chains.

"Enough is enough. We need to get our share. We helped build this economy," he said.

Edwards has traveled to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston this year to help hotel workers gain higher wages.

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