The incoming manager of the Pacific Beach Hotel said it is looking forward to reuniting with its employees, but many of the more than 400 workers said it will not be a happy reunion.

Pacific Beach Corp., an affiliate of hotel owner HTH Corp., will take control of the 837-room Waikiki property tomorrow. An affiliate of Outrigger Hotels had managed the hotel since January, but that agreement was canceled by HTH Corp.

The hotel owner and its hourly employees have been at odds for five years since the workers sought unionized representation. The employees voted three years ago to join the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142, but have not yet reached a contract agreement.

The 435 workers were told in August that they would be laid off effective tomorrow, but would have the opportunity to reapply for work. All but 45 union workers and seven managers have been rehired.

Yesterday, the hotel issued a statement saying it looked forward to "renewing its long relationship with employees." Robert Minicola, HTH regional vice president, said the hotel rehired as many people as it could.

"We have worked very hard to provide as many jobs as possible at Pacific Beach Hotel and we are confident the employees support our efforts," Minicola said. "However, the occupancy trends in Waikiki have declined and our business forecast for 2008 is to remain flat."

Minicola pointed out that the Shogun restaurant will be closing tomorrow and that 40 of the restaurant's 51 employees have been moved to other positions in the hotel. He said it was "unfortunate that we cannot provide jobs for everyone."

But many employees are accusing the hotel of singling out workers who have been involved in union activity. Seven of the 11 members of the negotiating team will be laid off, the union said.

The union has filed several unfair labor charges with the National Labor Relations Board, but ILWU officials said that it could take years before the complaints are resolved.

The hotel declined comment on the pending legal actions.

Yesterday, the team met for the last time with a negotiator from Outrigger and many who are losing their jobs wondered what they were going to do as of tomorrow.

Hotel bartender Todd Hatanaka has been with Pacific Beach for 19 years and said he was not told by the hotel why he wasn't offered a job. But Hatanaka, 39, believes the hotel was retaliating against him because he was on the negotiating team.

"For me it was a slap in the face because there are people in my department with less seniority who got rehired," Hatanaka said. "I have a good working record. In the 19 years, I've called in sick maybe two times. I've never been reprimanded for anything."

For Willy Yadao, he's still holding out hope that a job offer letter is on its way. Yadao, a food runner and hotel employee for seven years, has a wife and two children.

"It's sad because it's Christmas season," Yadao said. "I don't know what I will do. It's confusing right now."

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.