Local 5 endorses David Ige for Governor

Hawaii’s Best Union three years in a row announced the endorsement to hundreds of Local 5 members at their annual statewide Delegate Convention

News Release from UNITE HERE Local 5, June 21, 2018

(Honolulu, HI) – UNITE HERE Local 5, Hawaii’s Best Union three years in a row and one of the largest private sector unions in the state, announced that they are endorsing David Ige for Governor. The announcement was made at Local 5’s annual statewide Delegate Convention, where hundreds of Local 5 members enthusiastically responded to the news.

Local 5’s member-led Political Action Team made the endorsement recommendation, and Local 5’s elected Executive Board unanimously supported the endorsement.

“Local 5 is endorsing Governor Ige in his re-election campaign because he has been loyal to Hawaii’s working families. We saw this when he vetoed a bad Airbnb bill; if it had passed, it would have allowed illegal vacation rentals to overrun our state and take away what little affordable housing is left for locals. He shot down the NextEra merger with Hawaiian Electric, which would have been disastrous for working families who already pay way too much for utilities and can’t afford to pay more,” says Eric Gill, Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Local 5.

Governor Ige also affirmed his support for nearly 150 non-union United Airlines catering workers at the Honolulu Airport who want a fair process to unionize. “Governor Ige understands that workers like me are the backbone of Hawaii’s tourism industry. I’m happy to hear that he supports raising the minimum wage to $15. As a non-union United Airlines catering worker, I only make $12 an hour and struggle to make ends meet. Like us, Governor Ige believes that one job should be enough to live in Hawai’i and support our families,” says Ino Otto, who has worked at United Airlines catering for five years.

Over 10,000 Local 5 members in the hospitality, healthcare, and food service industries have union contracts expiring this year. Most of the major union hotel contracts expire on June 30. Governor Ige pledged to support Local 5’s One Job Should Be Enough campaign and will be joining Local 5 members next week as we publicly launch the campaign.

Local 5 represents approximately 11,000 workers throughout Hawaii who work in the hospitality, health care and food service industries and is an affiliate of UNITE HERE, an international union that represents over 250,000 workers throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.unitehere5.org.

LINK: Photos can be downloaded here.

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LOCAL 5 ENDORSES DAVID IGE FOR GOVERNOR

From Ige Campaign, June 21, 2018

(Honolulu, HI) – UNITE Here! Local 5, representing members in Hawai‘i’s hospitality, food service and healthcare industries have endorsed Governor David Ige for a second term.  The announcement was made by Local 5’s Financial Secretary-Treasurer, Eric Gill, on Thursday, June 21 at the Hale Koa Hotel during the Local 5 annual Delegate Convention.

Governor Ige attended the Convention and said, “I am thankful and honored to receive the endorsement from the 10,000 hard working men and women of Local 5. Their statewide membership is essential for a strong economy. Our hotels and hospitality services are safe, clean, attractive and welcoming for tourists, and our healthcare facilities are well maintained and staffed to provide the crucial services needed for residents and visitors. I am very grateful for their support.”

Governor Ige’s accomplishments include maintaining Hawai‘i’s global position as a leader in tourism. In 2017, Hawai‘i’s visitors contributed $16.8 billion to the local economy and supported 204,000 industry jobs, representing a historic high. Governor Ige has dedicated funding to increase mental health treatment, Kupuna Care for full-time caregivers, provided an accessible healthcare system and more.

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From Hanabusa Campaign—June 21, 2018

This just in -- the Hawaiʻi Fire Fighters Association has endorsed Colleen for governor! HFFA represents approximately 2,000 active-duty and 1,000 retired State and County professional fire fighters in the State of Hawai‘i.

Colleen is proud to represent first responders who work tirelessly for the safety of Hawaiʻi’s residents. As a community, we rely upon our fire fighters to keep us safe. But our fire fighters face the same concerns that everyone has, from financial security to access to health care to education and workforce training opportunities for their children.

As governor, Colleen will take decisive action to make sure every family can thrive.