HONOLULU -- The sudden economic downturn has cast a new light on contract negotiations --particularly in the tourist-related industries.

It was just four months ago that hotel workers ratified the master contract covering the major hotels in Waikiki. However, with the volume of tourists down significantly, management and labor are scrambling to reach equitable agreements.

Hilton Hawaiian Village is no longer booking new guests into the Tapa and Diamond Head towers, routing them instead into their four other high rises for now.

It's also temporarily closed down two of its 20 restaurants and lounges.

Workers across Waikiki are looking at sharing hours or taking leave rather than being furloughed or laid off.

That unsettling reality is forcing management and labor to re-examine their working contract.

"Some employers have asked us put off negotiations until the situation clarifies. There's a possibility that employers who already have a contract may ask us to open up in some areas because of economics," union leader Eric Gill said.

Gill said during Desert Storm, the union did relax some contractual language. But, the union is worried not just for its hotel workers -- it also represents food service employees at two of Hawaii's flight kitchens. The staffs there have been seriously affected by the reductions in flights.

Things are so bad, American and TWA said as a cost-cutting measure, the only meals it will serve on its Hawaii flights to and from the West Coast will be in first class.

"On the flights from the West Coast: San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles, which are shorter flights, we will not offer food in coach," Mark Slitt of American Airlines said.

American and TWA's new meal policy takes effect Nov. 1.

The union said the flight kitchens have already ready begun cutting staff.

The airlines said meals will still be served to coach class on the longer transcontintental flights to places like Chicago and Fort Worth.