Workers at the Sheraton Kauai Resort recently voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new three-year contract with the hotel workers union, UNITE HERE Local 5, and Starwood, the owner and operator of the resort.

Union workers at the Kaua'i resort began negotiations several months ago. Among their top priorities was achieving parity with other Waikiki Starwood properties in regards to wages, benefits and working conditions. The new agreement accomplishes this goal, bringing wages and benefits up to the industry-leading Waikiki standards for the first time since Hurricane Iniki, according to the union.

The agreement also brings UNITE HERE Local 5 units on Kaua'i, Maui and Waikiki under a common expiration date in 2010, which allows the Sheraton Kauai to be part of statewide bargaining for the first time since 1990. UNITE HERE was created by the merger of two unions, the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees and the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees.

Sheraton Kauai general manager Angela Vento said: "We are pleased to reach an agreement with Local 5. We worked together to formulate this current agreement, which provides excellent wages and benefits for our associates."

"Sheraton Kauai workers have always had the best contract on the island," said Cheryl Oyama, Kauai Executive Board member for Local 5. "This new agreement not only leaps us even farther ahead, but means that we will be stronger in future contract negotiations as we team up with the other Local 5 hotels statewide."

Oyama, of Lawa'i, works in the restaurant at the Sheraton. "I'm really happy that our tipped workers have made history. On our island, only UNITE HERE food and beverage servers will receive sick leave benefits at double-time pay rates. Other tipped workers will continue to have to go to work sick, because their sick leave doesn't cover lost tip income." she said.

Local 5's new agreement includes: