ILWU endorses Mufi Hannemann for governor · candidates to file nomination papers. The union’s...
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Volume 50 • No. 2 March/April 2010 ADDRESS LABEL The VOICE of the ILWU—Published by Local 142, International Longshore & Warehouse Union ILWU Local 142 President Isaac Fiesta, Jr. announced the union’s endorsement of Mufi Hannemann at a press conference on March 9, 2010. The ILWU’s statewide Political Action Committee made the decision to endorse Hannemann after meeting with both Mufi Hannemann and Neil Abercrombie on March 2, 2010. (L-r) Secretary- Treasurer Guy K. Fujimura, Mayor Mufi Hannemann, President Isaac Fiesta Jr., Vice President Donna Domingo. ILWU Local 142 endorsed Mufi Hannemann for governor after the State Political Action Committee met with both Hannemann and Neil Aber- crombie on March 2, 2010. “It was a very difficult decision as both candidates are very good friends of the ILWU and have done a lot to help working people,” Local 142 President Isaac Fiesta Jr. said. “Both candidates would be excellent governors and have a lot to give to the people of Hawaii.” “Our Political Action Committee, which is made up of ILWU members from the four counties and the long- shore industry, met with Neil and Mufi on March 2, 2010. There was a lot of discussion and debate among the members of the Committee. In the end, the ILWU Political Action Committee decided to support Mufi Hannemann.” The ILWU also gave early endorse- ments to Mayor Bernard Carvalho of Kauai and Mayor Charmaine Tavares of Maui County. The union endorsed State Senators Dwight Takamine, Les Ihara, Brian Taniguchi, and Glen Wakai. Endorsed State House of Representatives include Joseph Souki, Isaac Choy, Sylvia Luke, ILWU endorses Mufi Hannemann for governor Karl Rhoads, Blake Oshiro, and Roy Takumi. The ILWU gave early support to US Senator Daniel Inouye and US House of Representative Mazie Hirono at an earlier meeting of the union’s Political Action Committee in December 2009. Most of the ILWU endorsements will be made after the July 20 deadline for candidates to file nomination papers. The union’s political action committees will then interview candidates who request the union’s support. The Primary Election will be held on September 18, 2010. The last day to register to vote in the Primary Elec- tions is August 19. The General Election will be held on November 2, 2010. The last day to reg- ister to vote in the General Elections is October 4. The easiest way to vote is by mail. You can request an absentee ballot for both the Primary and General Elec- tions after July 20. You will receive a ballot by mail which you return by mail. There’s no need to drive to the polling site and wait in line. Why Hanabusa is our best choice for Congress Colleen Hanabusa is running in the special election to fill the vacancy left by Neil Abercrombie in the 1st Congressional District of Hawaii. Also running for the seat are Ed Case and Republican Charles Djou. The ILWU and many labor unions are urging their members to support and vote for Colleen Hanabusa as the best and clear choice for working people of Hawaii. Colleen Hanabusa, who is cur- rently serving as a senator in the Hawaii State Legislature, has con- sistently stood on the side of workers Senator Daniel Inouye and State Senators Dwight Takamine, Russell Kokubun and Brian Taniguchi join Colleen Hanabusa to wave signs on April 5. Members from the Hawaii Longshore Division also participated in the sign-waving. ILWU members in the 1st Congressional District are urged to vote for Hanabusa in the special election which will be held by mail. Members should be receiving their ballots in early May. and their families. She comes from a working class background. She was raised by her grandparents in the housing camps of the Waianae Plan- tation on Oahu. Her grandfather was the plantation fisherman and her mother’s father was the plantation’s carpenter. Hanabusa shares many of the same concerns and believes in the same principles as the ILWU. Hana- busa does legal for our union and our longshore division. She understands that unions are the democratic voice of workers and she would work with unions to make life better for work- ing families. Hanabusa addressed the ILWU Local 142 Convention on September 17, 2009. She told the Convention delegates how the ILWU is where the labor movement really started effectively in Hawaii’s history. “Your commitment to the support of fel- low union members in their difficult times…that the motto which has been the foundation of the ILWU, ‘An injury to one is an injury to all’ really means something when we are look- ing at a situation like we are today.” Photos by George Waialeale Hanabusa congratulated the ILWU for taking the lead in improving the lives of working people. “Every benefit the working people have come to enjoy [are] tied to sacrifices which this Union has been front and center on. Even today, when you look at the legislation that’s being passed, the lobbying that’s being done, you folks are front and center. So I congratu- late each and every one of you and I thank each and every one of you.” We need someone like Colleen Hanabusa who shares our values and will work for us in Washington D.C. Congressional Dist. 1 Special Election:Vote and return your ballot before May 22.
Transcript of ILWU endorses Mufi Hannemann for governor · candidates to file nomination papers. The union’s...
March/April 2010 VOICE ILWUOF
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Volume50•No.2 March/April2010
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The VOICE of the ILWU—Published by Local 142, International Longshore & Warehouse Union
ILWULocal142PresidentIsaacFiesta,Jr.announcedtheunion’sendorsementofMufiHannemannatapressconferenceonMarch9,2010.TheILWU’sstatewidePoliticalActionCommitteemadethedecisiontoendorseHannemannaftermeetingwithbothMufiHannemannandNeilAbercrombieonMarch2,2010.(L-r)Secretary-TreasurerGuyK.Fujimura,MayorMufiHannemann,PresidentIsaacFiestaJr.,VicePresidentDonnaDomingo.
ILWULocal142endorsedMufiHannemannforgovernoraftertheStatePoliticalActionCommitteemetwithbothHannemannandNeilAber-crombieonMarch2,2010.
“ItwasaverydifficultdecisionasbothcandidatesareverygoodfriendsoftheILWUandhavedonealottohelpworkingpeople,”Local142PresidentIsaacFiestaJr.said.“Bothcandidates
wouldbeexcellentgovernorsandhavealottogivetothepeopleofHawaii.”
“OurPoliticalActionCommittee,whichismadeupofILWUmembersfromthefourcountiesandthelong-shoreindustry,metwithNeilandMufionMarch2,2010.TherewasalotofdiscussionanddebateamongthemembersoftheCommittee.Intheend,theILWUPoliticalActionCommittee
decidedtosupportMufiHannemann.”TheILWUalsogaveearlyendorse-
mentstoMayorBernardCarvalhoofKauaiandMayorCharmaineTavaresofMauiCounty.
TheunionendorsedStateSenatorsDwightTakamine,LesIhara,BrianTaniguchi,andGlenWakai.EndorsedStateHouseofRepresentativesincludeJosephSouki,IsaacChoy,SylviaLuke,
ILWU endorses Mufi Hannemann for governorKarlRhoads,BlakeOshiro,andRoyTakumi.
TheILWUgaveearlysupporttoUSSenatorDanielInouyeandUSHouseofRepresentativeMazieHironoatanearliermeetingoftheunion’sPoliticalActionCommitteeinDecember2009.
MostoftheILWUendorsementswillbemadeaftertheJuly20deadlineforcandidatestofilenominationpapers.Theunion’spoliticalactioncommitteeswilltheninterviewcandidateswhorequesttheunion’ssupport.
ThePrimaryElectionwillbeheldonSeptember18,2010.ThelastdaytoregistertovoteinthePrimaryElec-tionsisAugust19.
TheGeneralElectionwillbeheldonNovember2,2010.Thelastdaytoreg-istertovoteintheGeneralElectionsisOctober4.
Theeasiestwaytovoteisbymail.YoucanrequestanabsenteeballotforboththePrimaryandGeneralElec-tionsafterJuly20.Youwillreceiveaballotbymailwhichyoureturnbymail.There’snoneedtodrivetothepollingsiteandwaitinline.
Why Hanabusa is our best choice for CongressColleenHanabusaisrunningin
thespecialelectiontofillthevacancyleftbyNeilAbercrombieinthe1stCongressionalDistrictofHawaii.AlsorunningfortheseatareEdCaseandRepublicanCharlesDjou.
TheILWUandmanylaborunionsareurgingtheirmemberstosupportandvoteforColleenHanabusaasthebestandclearchoiceforworkingpeopleofHawaii.
ColleenHanabusa,whoiscur-rentlyservingasasenatorintheHawaiiStateLegislature,hascon-sistentlystoodonthesideofworkers
SenatorDaniel InouyeandStateSenatorsDwightTakamine,RussellKokubunandBrianTaniguchi joinColleenHanabusatowavesignsonApril5.MembersfromtheHawaiiLongshoreDivisionalsoparticipatedinthesign-waving.ILWUmembersinthe1stCongressionalDistrictareurgedtovoteforHanabusainthespecialelectionwhichwillbeheldbymail.MembersshouldbereceivingtheirballotsinearlyMay.
andtheirfamilies.Shecomesfromaworkingclassbackground.ShewasraisedbyhergrandparentsinthehousingcampsoftheWaianaePlan-tationonOahu.Hergrandfatherwastheplantationfishermanandhermother’sfatherwastheplantation’scarpenter.
HanabusasharesmanyofthesameconcernsandbelievesinthesameprinciplesastheILWU.Hana-busadoeslegalforourunionandourlongshoredivision.Sheunderstandsthatunionsarethedemocraticvoiceofworkersandshewouldworkwith
unionstomakelifebetterforwork-ingfamilies.
HanabusaaddressedtheILWULocal142ConventiononSeptember17,2009.ShetoldtheConventiondelegateshowtheILWUiswherethelabormovementreallystartedeffectivelyinHawaii’shistory.“Yourcommitmenttothesupportoffel-lowunionmembersintheirdifficulttimes…thatthemottowhichhasbeenthefoundationoftheILWU,‘Aninjurytooneisaninjurytoall’reallymeanssomethingwhenwearelook-ingatasituationlikewearetoday.”
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HanabusacongratulatedtheILWUfortakingtheleadinimprovingthelivesofworkingpeople.“Everybenefittheworkingpeoplehavecometoenjoy[are]tiedtosacrificeswhichthisUnionhasbeenfrontandcenteron.Eventoday,whenyoulookatthelegislationthat’sbeingpassed,thelobbyingthat’sbeingdone,youfolksarefrontandcenter.SoIcongratu-lateeachandeveryoneofyouandIthankeachandeveryoneofyou.”
WeneedsomeonelikeColleenHanabusawhosharesourvaluesandwillworkforusinWashingtonD.C.
Congressional Dist. 1 Special Election: Vote and return your ballot before May 22.
VOICE ILWUOF
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TourismisHawaii’snumberoneindustry.Nearly75%ofjobsinHa-waiiaredirectlyorindirectlyrelatedtothetourismindustry.
Hawaiiattractsvisitorswithitsbeautifulbeaches,warmclimate,anduniqueculture,butmanyotherdes-tinationshavebecomeincreasinglycompetitive.Thequestion:WhyshouldavisitorcometoHawaiiwhenthereareotherplacestovisit?
Theansweris:ThealohaandskillsofHawaii’sworkforcethatmeetandexceedexpectationsofvisi-torsandencouragethemtoreturn.
Hawaii Tourism Careers website offers help for workersThetourismindustryiscontinu-
allyseekingtorecruitnewworkersintotheindustryaswellasencour-ageincumbentworkerstomoveupthecareerladder.Onetoolavailabletotheworkforceisauser-friendlyonlinewebsitecalledHawaiiTour-ismCareers:hitourismcareers.org.Thewebsiteisa“one-stopshop”forthoseinterestedinfindingacareerorpursuingadditionaleducationortrainingintheindustry.
HawaiiTourismCareerswebsiteoffersacomprehensivelistoftour-ism-relateddegreeandcertification
Judge orders HTH/Pacific Beach Hotel to obey law
TheNationalLaborRelationsBoard(NLRB)soughtthecourtinjunctionwhenHTHofficerscon-tinuedtodefythelaw.AttorneysfortheHonoluluNLRBOfficearguedthatthehotel’s“dischargeoflead-ingunionactivistsandbargainingcommitteemembershasconveyed
totheiremployeesthattheUnionispowerlesstoeffectivelyrepresentthem,andthatthegovernmentispowerlesstorestrainsuchconduct.”
Judge orders HTH Corp.to comply with NLRB
OnMarch8,2010,FederalDistrictCourtJudgeJ.MichaelSeabrightorderedthecompanytocomplywiththeNLRB’sorder.HTHhasappealedtheNLRB’sactions,butJudgeSea-brightconcludeditwasunlikelytheappealwouldbeupheld.
ThecourtinjunctionrequiresHTHto:
1.Readthejudge’sordertoallem-ployeesinthepresenceofanNLRBagent;
2.Reinstatefirednegotiatingcom-
mitteemembersRubenBumanglag,DarrylMiyashiro,VirgieRecaido,VirbinaRevamonte,andRhandyVil-lanueva.
3.RecognizetheILWUastheunionrepresentingtheirworkers.
4.Immediatelyresumenegotia-tionsandhonoralltheagreementsreachedearlierwiththeunion.
5.RestoreconditionschangedbythecompanywithoutnegotiatingwiththeILWU.Underthecourtor-dertheILWUhastherighttodecidewhatchangestokeeporremove.
OnApril1,ILWUOahuDivisionDirectorDaveMorimetwithHTHVicePresidentMitchMinicola.How-ever,Minicolacontinuestobelievethecompanywillwinitsappeal.
Thecompanyhassentletters
programsinthestateandagrowinglistofcareeroptionsaswellasshortvideo-clipshighlightingindividualsintheindustrywhosharehowtheyhaveusedtrainingandeducation.Thewebsitealsofeaturesan“An-nouncements”sectionforup-to-dateinformationonupcomingapplicationdeadlines,events,andnewjobpost-ings.
Ifyou’reinterestedinacareerintourism,orwouldliketoupgradeyourcareeroptionsasaworkercur-rentlyintheindustry,pleasevisit
http://hihtourismcareers.org.
Sluggish recovery for 2010, faster in 2011forecast of the University of Hawai’i Economic Research Organization
Hawaii’seconomicrecoveryhasbegun.Employmentisstabilizing,andmanysectorswillbegintoaddmodestnumbersofjobsastheyearprogresses.Visitorarrivalsandspendingwillcontinuetofirmalongwitheconomicconditionsinourmajortourismmarkets.Privateconstructionisbottomingout,andthesectorwillbegintoseemorebenefitfromFed-eralandStatespendingprograms.Whilegrowthisresuming,thepaceofrecoverywillbeslow,constrainedbytepidU.S.consumerspendingandthedragfromtheStateandlocalfiscalconditions.Asaresult,unemploy-mentwillrecedeonlygraduallyfromcurrenthighlevels.
Visitor industry in slump; slight increase in arrivals
•Whilethevisitorindustryre-mainsinadeepslump,arrivalsnumbersedgedupslightlyoverthecourseof2009andvisitorspendingstabilizedbyyearend.Withamildrecoveryunderwayacrosstheglobeandmoreairliftplanned,weexpecta2.9%gaininarrivalsthisyear.In-ternationalmarketswillberelatively
strongerthanthedomesticmarket.Wecontinuetoexpectaveryattenu-atedrecoveryoverthenextseveralyears.Discountingwillcontinuetobethenorm,continuingtoexertdown-wardpressureonprofits.
•QuarterlyUHEROforecastre-portsnowincludeforecastfiguresformajorconstructionindustryindica-tors.Thesectorcontractedsharplyin2009,butthepaceofjoblosseshadslowedbyyearendandbuild-ingpermitsflattenedout.Stirringsofprivatesectorrecoveryandtheshort-termimpulsefromgovernmentcontractswillleadtonethiringincomingmonths.Overallconstructionspendingwillbe17%lowerthisyearthanin2009,butwillrisemorethan4%in2011.
•Joblosseslastyearweresevere.Thestabilizationofrecentmonthssetsthestageforaresumptionofmodestjobgrowthin2010.Somesec-torshavealreadyseenanuptickinjobsinthefinalquarterof2009;mostotherswillbegintoaddjobsduringthefirstorsecondquarterofthisyear.Becauseoflowjobcountsattheendof2009,annualfiguresfor2010
willstillshowanetdecline,maskingtheseearlygains.
•Theprivatesectorjobturnarounddoesnotmeanaquickreboundfromthesteeplossesincurredoverthepasttwoyears.Andadditionalpublicsectorjoblossesarelikely.Theag-gregatenon-farmjobcountwillshowasmall0.7%netlossfor2010asawhole,andweseeonlya0.9%gainin2011.Thispaceofjobcreationwillleavetheunemploymentratehighforanextendedtimeperiod.Weexpectstatewideunemploymenttoaverage6.9%thisyear,edgingdownto6.4%in2011.
•AswehadanticipatedlastMarch,Honoluluinflationdeceleratedtojusthalfapercentlastyear,withloweroilpricesandmoderatingsheltercostscausingasharpcoolingcomparedwith2008.Becausetherewillbecon-siderableslackinthelocaleconomyforthenextseveralyears,weexpectrelativelylowinflationtobethenormintheIslandsincomingyears.Afterenergycostscauseinflationtotickupto1.9%thisyear,theHonoluluCPIwillshowjust1.1%inflationin2011.
•Realpersonalincomehasnotseenthesamesharpdropasjobs,partlybecauseofthesurgeinun-employmentcompensationbutalsobecauselaborandproprietorincomedidnotfalldramatically.Weexpectincometobeflatin2010.Theseareveryrestrainedratesofincome
growthcomparedwiththeroughly4%averageduringthe2004-2005period.
•ThisreportmarksthefirsttimewearereleasingUHEROforecastsforHawaiirealGrossDomesticProduct(GDP).UsingasomewhatdifferentmethodologythanthatoftheFederalgovernment,UHEROestimatesthatHawaiirealGDPwasdown0.4%in2009aftercontracting1.3%in2008.RealGDPwillfallaslight0.2%in2010,beforeexpandingbyroughly0.5%in2011.
•Whilethepastyearhasbroughttheanticipatedbusinesscycleturningpoint,therehavebeennodevelopmentsthatwouldwarrantasubstantiallystrongerforecastpath.WorldgrowthappearssufficientlystrongtosupportonlyaslowpaceofHawaiirecoveryfornow,andthereisadownsideriskthatprematurefiscalcontractionintheU.S.andEuropecouldfurtherweakenglobaleconomicconditions.ThebiggestdownsideriskforHawaiiistheStatebudgetcrisis,whereweareonlynowfeelingthefullimpactofjoblossesandfurloughs/paycuts.Luckily,therevenuepicturealreadyappearshealthierthanwhatisreflectedintheCouncilonReve-nuesprojections,andsothedragfromStateandlocalgovernmentwilleaseastherecoveryprogresses,sothedragfromStateandlocalgovernmentwilleaseastherecoveryprogresses.
tothefirednegotiatingcommitteemembersworkers,offeringtorehirethem.
TheILWUisholdingmembershipmeetingswiththePacificBeachHotelworkersandwillrequestmeet-ingswiththecompanytoresumecollectivebargaining.
Japanesesupportersoftheboy-cotthavebeenmeetingregularlyinJapanandwillbeinformedofthelatestnewsattheirnextmeetingonApril15.
Theinternationalboycottofthehotelwillremaininplaceuntilaunioncontractisnegotiatedandap-provedbythehotel’sworkers.
The VOICE of the ILWU (ISSN 0505-8791) is published monthly except April and a combined June/July issue for $2 per year by Hawaii International Longshoremen’s & Warehousemen’s Union, 451 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814. Periodicals postage paid at the post office of Honolulu, Hawaii.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to VOICE of the ILWU, c/o ILWU Local 142, 451 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, HI 96814. Editorial Board: Isaac Fiesta Jr., Donna Domingo and Guy K. Fujimura.
Editor: Mel Chang
TheUniversityofHawaiiEconomicResearchOrganization(UHERO)collectsandanalyseseconomicdatafortheStateofHawaii.ThefollowingistheirlatestforecastonMarch26,2010.
HTHmustabidebytheNLRBordertorehirefivefiredworkersandbargainwiththeILWUonacontractforworkersofthePacificBeachHotelinWaikiki.
The next Local 142 Executive Board (LEB) meeting is scheduled for June 25, 2010, in Honolulu at the ILWU building on451 Atkinson Drive. The meeting starts at 9:00 A.M. ILWU members are welcome to attend as observers.
March/April 2010 VOICE ILWUOF
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VEBA Retiree Benefit Plan • On Oahu call 441-8600, or Neighbor Islands call toll-free (888) 256-3578.
ABloombergsurveyinFebruary2010reportedahuge32percentjumpinshippingchartersinDecem-ber2009.Asordersfortheirproductsreturntonormallevels,manufactur-ingcompaniesarereplenishingtheirsupplyofrawmaterials.
Demandforcoalandiron-orearesostrongthatshipsmustwaitinlonglinestopickuptheircargo.AtthePortofNewcastleinAustralia,asmanyas55shipsarewaitingtoloadcoal,comparedwith17ayearago.Similarlinesareformingattheiron-oreportsofTubaraoinBrazilandQingdaoinChina.
Lastyear,shippingwassoslow
Shipping volume jumps 32%thattheSouthKoreanPortofBusanhadtofindspacetostore31,000emptycontainers.Today,thecontain-ersarefullandwaitingtobeshippedtotheUSandEurope,buttherearen’tenoughshipstocarrytheincreasingloads.
Oneofthereasonsfortheshort-ageofshipsisthegrowingnumberoflastminuterushorders.USretail-ershadcuttheirinventoriestothelowestlevelintwoyearsandarenowplacingrushorderstorestock.
Withlittleadvancenotice,con-tainershipsmustbemovedtoportswheretheyareneeded,whichcantakeseveraldays.
Therighttoinformationandconsultationarebasicworkers’rightsrecognisedatthenational,EuropeanCommunityandinternationallevels.
Theyinvolveinparticulartherighttobeinformedandconsultedontheiremployer’seconomicandfinancialposition;ondecisionslikelytohaveaneffectonemploymentwithinthecompany;andtherighttorecognitionofthe‘workscouncil’.
Thisrightisbasedonthepromotionandimplementationof‘socialdialogue’assetoutinArticles138and139oftheEuropeanCharter.
Thejustificationforrightsto
European Charter gives workers right to information & consultation
informationandconsultationistheimportanceofmaintainingfairnessineconomicrelationsbetweenemployerandemployee.Inparticularthesharingofinformationprovidesadegreeofsecurityforemployeesaswellasanimportantcheckagainstexploitation.
Similarly,amodernforward-lookingbusinessdoesnotkeepitsworkersinthedarkaboutimportantdecisionsaffectingthem.Itisnotacceptable,forinstance,forworkerstolearnfromthemediaforthefirsttimethattheyaregoingtolosetheirjobs.
Advertiser & Star-Bulletin workers fight to keep jobs
Six different unions represent workers of the Honolulu Advertiser and two unions represent Star-Bulletin workers. This is a carry-over from the days when workers joined separate unions based on their skill or craft.
At the Advertiser, the six unions organized the Hawaii Printing Trades Council to coordinate their contract negotiations with the company and to maintain solidarity among the unions.
The Newspaper Guild (merged with the Communications Workers of America) represents the larg-est group of reporters, writers, and customer services. The Teamsters Graphic Communications Confer-ence represents the workers who do the page layout and design of the paper. The Honolulu Typographical Union represents the typesetters. The Hawaii Printing & Graphic Com-munications Union represents the workers who operate the printing presses. The International As-sociation of Machinist represents the mechanics who maintain the machinery.
The ILWU represents the second largest group of workers who handle the newspaper after it is printed. They assemble, sort, bundle the paper; load the delivery trucks; drive the trucks; and manage the small army of part-time people who sell the paper on the street or deliver the paper to home subscribers.
Hawaii Printing Trades CouncilA number of other industries con-
tinue to operate with different unions. Hospitals for example, have sepa-rate unions for registered nurses, pharmacy and clerical workers, x-ray and imaging technicians, food workers and housekeepers. Airlines have separate unions for pilots, flight attendants, and ground support workers.
The maritime industry has sepa-rate unions for masters, mates and pilots; for sailors; radio operators; cooks and stewards.
Construction workers belong to unions based on crafts—carpenters, operating engineers, ironworkers, bricklayers, electrical workers, and so on.
Organizing into separate craft-based unions can be a disadvan-tage for workers. New technology may combine jobs done by different crafts, and unions can find them-selves fighting each other for work. Management can make a cheaper deal with the weakest union and use this to undermine the other unions.
One unionThe ILWU is based on industrial
unionism, which aims to organize all workers of a company or indus-try into the same union. This allows workers to achieve the highest level of unity and prevents the employer from playing one group of workers against another group.
OnFeb.25,2010,GannettCompa-nyandOahuPublications,Inc.(OPI)announcedinajointpressreleasethatTheHonoluluAdvertiserwouldbesoldtoOPI,acompanycontrolledbyDavidBlack.Black’scompanyalreadyownstheHonoluluStar-Bulletin,whichitpurchasedin1991,andtheMid-WeekMagazine.
Star-Bulletin up for saleFederalanti-trustlawprohibits
commonownershipofcompetingdailynewspapers.ThismeansDavidBlackmusteitherselltheStar-Bulletin,closeoneofthepapers,ormergethepapers.
DavidBlackhasputtheStar-Bulletinupforsaleandintendstomergethetwonewspapersifnobuyerisfound.BlackplanstoclosetheStar-Bulletin’sKaneoheopera-tionandmovetotheAdvertiser’sKapoleiplant.
ThreeoffershavebeenmadetobuytheStar-Bulletin,butindustryinsiderssuspectBlackhasnointen-tionofsellingtheStar-Bulletinandisonlygoingthroughthemotionstosatisfyfederalregulators.
OnMarch9,Gannettinformedtheir600employeesattheAdver-tisertheywouldbeterminatedbetweenApril12andApril30whenthenewspaperissold.OnMarch19,Star-Bulletinemployeesweretoldaboutone-halfoftheemployeesor150workersmaylosetheirjobsaroundMay19ifthenewspapersaremerged.
OPIhascontractedamanagementservicecompanytooperatetheAd-vertiserduringthetransitionafterGannettleaves.
TheILWUandtheotherunionsrepresentingtheworkersofbothnewspapersaredoingeverythingtheycantopreventanylayoffsandkeepbothnewspapersoperating.Ademocraticsocietyneedsawell-in-formedpublic,andtwopaperswouldhelptokeepthenewsmorebalanced.Asinglenewspaper,ownedbyonecorporation,givesthatcorporationundueinfluenceoverthepublicandthreatensourdemocracy.
U.S. laws weak onworker protection
Theownersofbothnewspapers
madetheirdecisionswithouttalkingtotheiremployees.
SuchactionbymanagementwouldbeillegalintheEuropeanCommu-nitywhereworkershavetherighttoinformationabouttheiremployer’sfinancialcondition.Employersmustalsoconsultwiththeirworkersonmattersthataffectemployment.
Europeanworkerswouldhavebeeninformedwellinadvanceofanydecisionandwouldhavetherighttonegotiatewiththeiremployertofindalternativestopreventandlimitlayoffsorclosures.
TheintentoftheEuropeanlaw
istomaintainfairnessineconomicrelationsbetweenemployersandemployees,toprovidesomesecurityforemployees,andtoguardagainstexploitation.
IntheU.S.,employersareonlyrequiredtogiveworkers60day’sno-ticeofalayofforclosure.TheintentoftheU.S.lawistogiveworkerstimetopreparefortheirjoblossandnotsoworkerscanchallengetheiremployer’sdecisions.
Iftheirworkersareunionized,U.S.employershaveadutytonegoti-atewiththeunionsonhowthelayofforclosurewillbecarriedout.
Over900employeesofHonolulu’stwodailynewspapershavenoideaiftheywillhaveajob.Thepeoplewhowritethenewsbecamethenewswhentheylearnedabouttheirfateinapressreleaseissuedbytheiremployers.
AdozenofthesefloatingcranesinthemiddleofVictoriaHarborofftheIslandofHongKongtransfershippingcontainersfromfreighterstobarges.Mid-streamoperationswherecargoismovedbetweentwoshipsatseaavoidsthehighfeeschargedbytheHongKongcontainerportbutcanbedangerousandrisky.
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VOICE ILWUOF
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M e e t Y o u r L o c a l T i t l e d O f f i c e r s
Local PresidentIsaac Fiesta, Jr.
Local Vice PresidentDonna Domingo
Local Sec.-TreasurerGuy Fujimura
Business AgentPam Green
Division DirectorMichael Machado
Business AgentAlan “King” Kimura
WhatIwanttoaccomplishinmytermofoffice:Strengtheningandunificationofmyunitswouldbeinstrumentalfortheirsuccess-fulfuture.Gettingtheunitstobeindependentlystrongandknowl-edgeablewouldbebeneficial,sothatsolidarityrulessupreme.Thecruxofourexistenceistostronglysupportthepoliticalendeavorsthatensureourlongevityandsuccess,withthedemocraticprocessthathasalwaysbeenourstrongpoint.Thefuturityofourexistenceisdeterminedbythestrengthofourmembers.
HereComes2010…Peoplesayitwillgetworse,people
saythatwillgetbetter…thetestwillbetoStickTogether!
MahalofortheopportunitytoserveasyourBusinessAgent,
PamelaGreen
TheLocalConventioncompleteditsworkinSeptemberof2009andadoptedprogramsthatwillguideusforthenextthreeyears.MygoalistocarryouttheworkoftheConventionandtheConstitutionandBylawsofLocal142.
TherearefourareasIwouldliketoaddressthattheConventionadopted.OneistheLongshoreDivision.Now,ourbrothersandsistersofthewater-fronthavetheirowndivisionthatwilloperatewithfullautonomywithintheLocal142andgovernedexclusivelybyitsLongshoreDivisionmembership,asperArticleXXXVIIoftheConstitu-tionandBylawsofLocal142.
TheotherareaisthefinancialbudgetthattheConventionadopted.Asyouknow,thenationandourstatearegoingthroughasteepeconomicdownturnthathasledtoclosuresofcompaniesrepresentedbytheILWU,thelossofhoursforworkers,and
companiesaskingforcutsinwagesandbenefits.
Ourmembershipadopteda1/2per-centincreaseinLocaluniondues.Asyourpresident,IwilllookatareasintheLocaltocutcostsofoperation.Asyouknow,theincreaseindueswillbeusedtogetthroughthisfinancialcri-sisandtocontinuetooperatesoourmembershipwillbefullyrepresented.Thisincreasewillnotbeusedtogiveunionofficersanywageincreases.
TheotherareathatneedstobestrengthenedisourOrganizingprogram.Thisisthelifebloodofourunion.Ihavetakenovertheassign-mentoforganizingforLocal142andwillworkwithInternationalVicePresidentHawaiiWesleyFurtadoandthefiveDivisionstostepuptheLocalOrganizingprogram.Iamaskingallofourmembershiptogetinvolvedsowecanbuildthisunion.
ThereareothergoalsthatIhaveforthenextthreeyears,andIwillbeworkingwiththeLocalExecu-tiveCommitteeandLocalExecutiveBoardtoachievethem.Thesegoalsareasfollows:mobilizeforbettercontracts;buildtheunits;continuetoeducateunitofficersandFull-TimeOfficerssowecanrepresentourmem-bersbetter;improveteamworkwithinLocal142;continuetoimproveourHealthandWelfareFundandVEBAprogram;andworktogethertogetthroughthisfinancialcrisis.
PoliticalActionisanotherimpor-tantarea.ThisyearisanelectionyearforourGovernorandLieuten-antGovernor.TheLocalPoliticalActionCommitteehasendorsed
TheILWUhasbeeninthefore-frontinimprovingWages,Benefits,andWorkingConditionsforworkingpeople.
TheprogramsoftheILWUincludeOrganizing,Negotiations,ServicingMembers,andPoliticalAction.
Yourinvolvementandparticipationisimportanttopreservethequalityoflifethatweallstrivefor.Theheart-beatoftheILWUisitsmembers.
WearearankandfileUnion,withproceduresthatalloweverymembertovotefortheirleadersandtoap-provetheirunioncontract.
I’mproudtobeaILWUmember.“AninjurytooneisanInjurytoall.”
Thankyoutoallwhosupportedme,andcontinuetosupportme,intherecentchangesfortheKauaiDivision.Asweallmoveforwardduringtheseeconomictimesthereare,andwillbe,manychallengingissuestoface.Bypullingtogetherasone,weallcangetthroughthesedifficulttimesstrongerandbetterthanever.
TheILWUhasbeenrecognizedhistoricallyasthesingle,mostef-fectiveorganizationinbringingeconomic,socialandpoliticalprogresstoHawaii.BeforetheUnion,Hawaiiwasconsideredasemi-feudalsocietydominatedeconomicallybyfivemajorinter-lockedcompanies,knownasthe“BigFive”,thatcontrolledeverything.TheRepublicanPartydominatedpoliticsandrantheTerritorialgovernment.Theworkingclasswasconsidered“secondclass.”
TheILWUwasintheforefrontofchallengingthisstatusquobyor-ganizingtheworkersonthedocks,plantationsandotherindustries.Workerswonbetterpayandwork-ingconditionsandtheracialbarriersthattheemployersusedtodividethemwerebrokendown.Yes,theILWU,ourmembersandtheirfami-liesfoughttoimproveconditionsonthejob,buttheyalsoraisedthestan-dardforthewholecommunity.TheILWUfoughtfor“breadandbutter”issues,butalsofoughtforjusticeanddignityandagainstdiscrimination.
TheUnionwentontoalsobecomepoliticallyactive,sothatgainsmadeinthecontract,wouldnotbetakenawaythroughlegislation.TheUnionwantedbetterworkerbenefitandpro-tectionlaws,betterschools,especiallyintheruralcommunities,accesstohealthcareandsocialservices,andmoreopportunityforadvancementforourchildrenandtheirchildren,especiallyinhighereducation.
Aswefacethistriennium,wehavethegoalsofkeepingourunionsafeandeconomicallysoundandtobet-terserviceandprotectourmembersandtheirfamiliesthroughdifficulteconomictimes.Webelievethatweneedtoleverageourabilitytodothisthrougheffectivepoliticalaction.Moreimportantly,wecontinuetorecognizethattheILWUisatitsbestandmosthelpfultoourmembersandtheirfamilieswhenweprovidetheleadershipinthecontinuingstruggleofworkers“...toreceiveafairandjustreturnfortheirlabor...”,“...tobetreatedinadecentandrespectfulmannerbytheemployer”,“toorga-nizetheunorganized...,“toassistotherunionswheneverpossibleintheirresistancetoattacks...”,and“tofightallviolationsofdemocracy,whethertheyberacial,religiousorpolitical...”;“werejectracial,reli-gious,sexorpoliticaldiscriminationbyanyone;”(fromtheILWUDECLA-RATIONOFPRINICPLES).
M e e t Y o u r K a u a i D i v i s i o n O f f i c e r s
Division ClerkMelissaLynn Ragasa
MufiHannemannforGovernorandColleenHanabusafortheFirstCon-gressionalHouseDistrict.OtherearlyendorsementsarelistedonPage1.Weareaskingourmembershiptosup-portallendorsedcandidates.
t
ILWU 142Kauai Division4154 Hardy St.Lihue, HI 96766PHONE: 245-3374FAX: 246-9508
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Health & Welfare Plan
• HMA Office866-377-3977
• Akamai Line866-331-5913
• Catalyst RX888-869-4600
• Kaiser800-966-5955
InthelastthreeyearsourUnioncontinuedtoachievegreataccom-plishments.Wereceivednationalrecognitionforspearheadingtwolandmarkdecisions—thepassageofthe“card-check”bill,whichallowsHawaiiagricultureworkersafairerwaytojoinaunionandgetafirstcontract,andthefavorablerulingon15unfairlaborpracticechargesagainstPacificBeachHotel,inwhichafederaljudgeorderedtherein-statementofunionsupporterswithbackpay,andthereimbursementofnegotiationcoststotheUnion.Butmuchmoreworkliesaheadofusifwearetocontinuebetteringourmembers’standardoflivingandourchildren’sfuture.Weneedtobeevermoreaggressiveinorganizing,andinrepealingbadlawsthatpreventusfromorganizing.Morevolunteersareneededinpoliticalactiontohelpelectpoliticianswhowillstandupfortheaverageworkerandnotcowertothepressuresofbigbusinessorspe-cialinterestgroups.OurUnionwasbuiltonthehardworkofitsmem-bers.Withoutyourhelpwecouldnothaveaccomplishedsomuch.Forallofyouwhohavesupportedmeinthepast,thankyouverymuch—youtrulymadeadifference.
Oahu Division DirectorDave Mori
Business AgentShane Ambrose
Business AgentKarl Lindo
Business AgentLarry Ruiz
Business AgentMichael Yamaguchi
OverthenextthreeyearsIwanttocontinueworkingwiththemembersandtherestoftheFullTimeOfficersandStafftobetterserveyou.
Withthenewchangesinassignments,newchallengesandop-portunitieswillarisethatwillsurelytestourresolve.Withyourinvolve-mentIamconfidentthatdespitetherecenteconomicchallengesoursolidaritywillensurethatourUnioncontinuestoendure.
Asweenterthiscriticaltrienniumitisimportantthatweallpullto-gethertodoourparttoorganizetheunorganizedtoensurethatfuturegenerationshavetherightsweholddeartoday.Iurgeallmembersandtheirfamiliestoeducatetheirfriendsandneighborsthatweallhaveavoiceandthatweallcanmakeadif-ference.
Mygoalforthenextthreeyearsistocontinuerepresentingandprotect-ingourmembersrightsonthejob.Ialsobelieveineducatingtherankandfileleadershipandmembersontheimportanceofbeinginvolvedintheunion.Thissimplymeansmem-bersexercisingtheirunionrights,policingthecontract,andparticipat-inginunionprograms.Withmemberparticipationandinvolvement,wecanmakeadifferencetogetherinprovidingworkerswithgoodjobs,protectingimportantbenefits,andbeingrespectedonthejob.
Thepastthreeyearshavebeentoughforallofourmembers,manyhavelostjobsorwagesandbenefitshavebeenaffectedduetotheecono-my.
AsaBusinessAgent,havingthesupportofunitleadershipandmem-bersiswhatenablesustodoourjobmoreeffectively.Yoursupportmakestheunionstrong.
Ihavethreebasicgoalsforthisterm:tostrengthentheunionbygettingmorememberstobeactiveparticipantsinunionprograms,tostrengthenourcontractsthroughnegotiationsandastrongstewardsystem,andtostrengthenlabor’spo-sitioninpoliticsthroughourPoliticalActionProgram.Thefirstisimpor-tantbecausetheILWUisahighlydemocraticunion,anddemocracydoesnotworkwithoutparticipation.Ifmoremembersplayanactiveroleintheunion—evenasmallone—theoverallfunctionoftheunionwillimprove.Thesecondgoalisbasedonthefactthatourunioncontractsareahugefactorinthequalityoflifeofourfamilies.Weneedtofightfortheimprovementsweneedandfightagainsttakeaways.Finally,evenwithastrongcontract,wewouldbelostwithoutlawsthatprotecttherightsofworkingpeople.Eventherighttobelongtoaunionisdeterminedbylaw.Ifwedonotelectlawmakerswhounderstandandsupportworkingfamilies,ourwholecommunitywillsuffer.
IamthankfultotheOahurankandfilewhohadtheconfidencetoelectmeasabusinessagentforthenextthreeyears.Ipromisetoworkhardandrepresentyoutothebestofmyability.OrganizingworkerswhohavenounionrepresentationneedstobeapriorityoftheILWU.Weneednewmemberstobuilduniondensitysowecannegotiatefromapositionofstrength.TheunionmustalsocontinuetoobtainpoliticalcloutwhichtheILWUiswellknownfor.Iwouldliketomobilizeexistingunits,motivatemembersandbuildastrongarchitectureofleaders.Weneedtoeducatetherankandfile,andenforceourcollectivebargainingagreements.Yourfull-timeoffi-cersandunionrepresentativesarenottheunion.WEAREALLTHEUNION.Withouttheeffortsofevery-one,theILWUcannotsucceed.
M e e t Y o u r O a h u D i v i s i o n O f f i c e r s
Wemustfollowtheunionprogram,whichincludesstrengtheningex-istingunits,trainingandbringingalongnewleadership,organizingnewmembers,andkeepingourunionandcollectivebargainingagreementsstrong.
Wehavealreadybegunworktoincreaseourmembersinthegrow-inghealthcareindustry.Weareaccretingmemberswherewecan,andalsonegotiatingthebestpossiblecontractsforallILWUhealthcareworkers.
Iamalsoencouragingrank-and-fileparticipationintheeducationprogramsoftheunion,includinggettingleadershipandstewardtrain-ing.PartofoureducationprogramincludestheproductionofaBusinessAgentreportthatcanbesharedbyallunitsthatdonothavetheirownnewsbulletins.
ThereisaplaceforeverymemberintheILWU—workingsidebysidetomakeourjobsandlivesbetter.
Business AgentBrian Tanaka
Division ClerkLisa Maehara
ILWU 142Oahu Division451 Atkinson Dr.Honolulu, HI 96814PH: 949-4161FAX: 941-5867
VEBA Retiree Benefit PlanOn Oahu: 441-8600 or Neighbor Islands Toll Free: (888) 256-3578
VOICE ILWUOF
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2010yearoftheTigerThepasttwoyears(2008and
2009)havebeenthemostdevastat-ingtimesIhaveseensince9/11,intermsofreductionsinworkforce,furloughs,companyshutdowns,andlayoffs.TheunemploymentlineattheStatebuildingseemsendless,andwebegintowonder,“whatnext?”
AsanelectedFull-timeOfficerofMauiDivisionsince1992,Ihaveseendramaticchangesintheecono-mysincethoseboomyears,whenthetourismindustryofferedgreatworkopportunities.
Althoughwearedealingwithdifficultcircumstances,weneedtokeepapositiveoutlookandcontinuetoupholdtheprinciplesthathavemadeourunion—ILWULocal142—aleaderinHawaii’slaborcommunity,inourworkplaces,andinthepoliti-calarena.WemuststrivetopromoteactiveparticipationandeducationforILWUmembersinordertodevelopsolidaritywithinourunion.Thissolidaritywillbethedrivingforceinalltheendeavorsweundertake.
Withsolidarity,wewillbebetterabletonegotiategoodcontractsaswemoveforward.ThisistheyearoftheTIGER—solet’sgetaggressive(inapositiveway)andtakecontrolofourworklives,andprosper!
Aloha,mynameisStephen(Steve)CastroSr.andI’dliketothankyouforallowingmetoserveyouasyourBusinessAgent.Ithascertainlybeenachallengingandrewardingexperi-enceformetheselastfewyears.
Mygoalforthistermwillbetogetourmembersmoreinvolvedbytak-inganactivepartintheirunits.Thisisnotaboutoneperson,it’saboutallofus—andworkingtogether,allthingsarepossible.
Iwillcontinuetodomybesttoserveandrepresentyoutothebestofmyability.
Maui Division DirectorWilliam Kennison
Business AgentJerrybeth De Mello
Business AgentSteve Castro
Business AgentRoberto Andrion
Thepastthreeyearshavebeenthemosttryingofmy30yearsasafull-timeofficeroftheILWULocal142,havingservedasaDivisionRepresen-tative,BusinessAgentandpresentlyastheMauiDivisionDirector.
WiththehelpoftheBusinessAgentsandUnitLeadershipwewillcontinuetostriveforwardandsup-portourmembersinimprovingandmaintainingbenefitsinourCollectiveBargainingAgreements.OneofourmaingoalsistoimproveandtogetmoreCompaniesthatwerepresentintotheHotelandGeneralHealthandWelfareTrustFunds.Withtherisingcostofmedicalitistheonlywaywecanhelpourmembers’controlthemedicalpremiumscostandwellasmaintaintheirbenefits.
Ourgoalsaretoensurethatinthelongrun,wesaveourmembersjobssoweallhaveabrightfuturetolookforwardto.
Business AgentClaro Romero
MygoalasaBusinessAgentistocontinueprovidingbetterservicetoallmembers.Iknowthatsomemembersfeelthattheyarenotget-tingtherepresentationthattheyshouldbegettingonthejob.Iwanttochangetheirmindsbyalwaysbe-ingsupportivetoall,andespeciallythemembers.
IamparticularlyconcernedaboutmemberswhomaybeimmigrantsandspeakEnglishasasecondlanguage,suchasthemanyFilipinoworkerswhoareemployedinILWUunits.IwillcontinuetodothebestIcan,andlookforwardtoservingandseeingyouall.
Mahalo!!!Salamat!!!ThankYou!!!Mabuhaytoallofyou…
Business AgentTeddy Espeleta
MynameisTeddyB.Espeleta.IamservingmythirdtermasMauiDivisionBusinessAgent.Inmythirdterm,Ihopetocontinuetoaccom-plisheducatingourmembersabouttheimportanceofbeingpartoftheILWUandtocontinuetofightfortherightsofourmembers.
ThroughouthistorytheILWUwasalwaysintheforefrontfightingtoimproveworkconditions,wages,andbenefitsbyorganizingtheunorga-nizedworkers,thus,settingahigherstandardoflivingforothersindus-triestofollow.
IchosetorunforofficebecauseIstronglybelievethattheunion(ILWU)providesuswiththeabilitytopreserveandconstantlyimprovethosebenefitsweenjoytoday.Itismygoaltocontinueexpandingthemembershipthroughorganizing,maintainthebenefitsthatwehave,andimprovethosebenefitsforabrighter&bettertomorrow.
Foranyonegoaltobeaccom-plisheditneedsthesupportofmanywonderfulandcaringILWUmem-bers.Onepersoncannotdoitalone;however,asagroupwecanmakeamajordifferenceintheyearstocome.Iaskforeveryonetoactivelyvolun-teerandsupportourUnionactivitiesandPoliticalActionCommitteeprogramssothatwecanbuilduponwhatofourforefathersstarted.
“LET’SWORKTOGETHER,Ourfutureandchildren’sfutureisinourhands” Business Agent
Delbert DeRegoThepastthreeyearshasbeenthe
mosttryingtimeIhaveeverexpe-rienced,sincebecomingaFullTimeOfficeroftheMauiDivisionin1995,whichwasduetotheunprecedentedeconomicconditionsofrecentpastthathasaffectedallofus.
Thisnexttermwewillcontinuetoworkdiligentlytopreservejobs,workopportunityandassuranceofworkerdignityinallourindustries.
Strivetopromoteactivepar-ticipation,education,leadershipdevelopmentandsolidarityofourmemberswillbedrivingforceinourabilitytocontinuetonegotiateimprovements.Weshallcontinuetouphold,restore,andresetthestandardthathaskeptILWULo-cal142intheforefrontofHawaii’sLaborHistorythroughourmember-shipparticipationintheworkplace,communityandpoliticalarena.Inthelongrun,ourgoalistogrowandtoensurethatwesaveourmembersjobssoweallhaveabrightfuture.
IamproudtobeanILWUmem-berandcommittedtoservethemembershiptothebestofmyability.
MygoalasabusinessagentistobuildmyUnit’sleadershipstructurebysendingthestewardsandofficerstomoretrainingclasses.AUnitisnotoperatingproperlyifitisnotbuiltfromthegroundup.
ThemembersofthisUnionhaveeveryrighttohavetheirvoicesheard,andthewaytodoitisprovidegoodeducationandleadershipsowemayachievemaximumsuccess.
MyjobasabusinessagentistoadvisetheseUnitleadersandsup-portthemembersbymakingsuretheirconcernswiththeCompanyareaddressedinatimelymanner.
IhavebeenaILWUmemberfor36years,astewardfor24,aUnitofficerfor6andabusinessagentfor6.
Business AgentAbel Kahoohanohano, Jr.
M e e t Y o u r M a u i D i v i s i o n O f f i c e r s
ILWU 142Maui Division
896 Lower Main St.Wailuku, HI 96793PHONE: 244-9191FAX: 244-7870
Maui Division Clerks’ photoson page 8
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AstheHawaiiDivisionDirectorforthepastsix(6)years,RichardBaker,Jr.hasledtheHawaiiDivisionTeamtoachieveitsgoalsintheareasofor-ganizing,mobilizing,negotiationsofgoodandfaircontracts,andbuildingfutureleadershipattheunitlevel.
WhenIlookbackasaworkerinsugarattheHiloCoastProcess-ingCompany(H.C.P.C.)asaunitleader,thenasabusinessagentandcurrentlyasyourHawaiiDivisionDirector,wemustnotlosefocusofthereasonwhyweserveourmem-bers.Weneedtobestrongasunionleaders,setnewgoalsandpriorities,leadourrank-and-file,andprotecttheirrightsasourfathersstruggledsohardtoachieve,whichwemustnowcontinuetostruggletomaintainourrightsandbenefitsasrank-and-filemembers.
TheHawaiiDivisionTeamishereforyou—justcallus—WEWILLBETHERE!
“AnInjurytoOneIsAnInjuryToAll.”
Iwouldliketosayasincerema-halotoallofourmembersandtheirfamiliesforsupportingthecauseofworkplacejusticethroughtheiref-forts.Iamespeciallygratefultoourunitofficerswhogivesoselflesslytoactasmentors,friends,teammates,therapists,andadvisors,notonlytotheirfellowworkers,buttoallofus.
SometimesasBusinessAgents,wearesoverybusyfilinggrievances,negotiatingcontracts,workingonpoliticalactionissuestobetterliv-ingstandardsforworkingpeople,orjustlisteningtoourmembersvent,thatweforgettoremindallworkingpeoplewhyUnionismmakesperfectsenseforthemasindividuals.Asworkingclasspeople,mostofusdonothaveourownattorneylikesomeofthesebigtimecorporateCEOs.Asindividuals,wewouldbelaughedoffthepremisesofthecompanyifwewenttothemanageronourownandtoldthemthatwedemanda3percentwageincreaseeachyearforthenext4years,atenpercentpensionincrease,fullfamilymedicalcoveragewiththemostminimumco-sharepossible,andwewantitallinwriting.However,asagroupofworkers,wehavethepowertolever-ageourselvestomakejustthoseverydemandswithoutbeinglaughedoffthepremises.Someofourmembersmayneverhaveagrievancetheirwholecareer.Theymaywonderwhytheyareevenpayingduesiftheynevergetintoanytrouble.Ofcourse,thesecurityofknowingthatyoucannotbeterminatedatwill,andthatyouhavelegalrecoursethroughthegrievanceprocedureisveryvaluabletoallUnionmembers.But,perhapsthegreatestbenefitforallUnionmembersisknowingthatwhenitcomestowagesandbenefits,Unionmembersmakeupwardsof20to30percentmorethannon-unionmembersinthesameorsimilarjobclassificationsnationwide.Inordertomaintainthatadvantage,youmustgetinvolved,joinyourunitofficers,andtakepartinthisveryblessedandmoralstruggleforequalityandjustice.AllofourindividualfuturesdependonourcollectiveeffortsthroughtheILWU.IfyouandIdon’tdoit,whowill?
Hawaii Division DirectorRichard Baker, Jr.
Business AgentGreg Gauthier
Business AgentGeorge Martin
Business AgentWallace Ishibashi
Business AgentElmer Gorospe
Iwouldliketakethisopportu-nitytosay“Thankyou”toallofthemembersoftheHawaiiDivisionfortheirsupport.AsourUnionfacesmanychallenges,Iamcommittedtoservetherankandfiletothebestofmyability,toassistallmembersandtocontinuetoprotectworkersrights.Overthenextthreeyears,someofmygoalswillbetoworkhand-in-handwithrank-and-filemembersateachoftheunitsIserve;mentorupcomingleaders;andmakesurethetermsofourcontractsareupheld.Ihavealwaysbelievedinthecriticalimportanceofpoliticalaction.Grass-rootsorganizingforpoliticsisoneofthegreatestweaponsunionshavetoimproveourchanceofgettingafairshakeinCongressandattheStateLegislature.Ihopetobeabletorecruitmoreactivemembersintoourpoliticalactionprogram,becauseournumbersareourstrength.
Mahaloforyourvoteofconfidenceandtrust.Iwillcontinuetopledgemyfriendshipandknowledgetohelpyouinanywaypossible.Duringthisterminofficewewillbefacedwithsomemajornegotiations,togetherwewillsettleforthebestpackagepossible.Providingmoretrainingopportunitiesforunitmembersinter-estedtolearnandprovideadditionaltrainingforourseniorUnitofficerstobetterrepresenttheirmembersaresomeofourgoals.
“UnitedTogether”wecanmakeahugedifferenceasthedrivingforceofHawaiiDivisionandLocal142.Getinvolved,beproactive,yourpar-ticipationdeterminesoursuccess.
Business AgentCorinna Salmo
FirstofallIwouldliketotakethisopportunitytothankallthememberswhohaveplacedtheirtrustandfaithinme.Asyoumustknow,wearenowexperiencingoneoftheworsteconomictimestherehaseverbeen.Weseeiteverydayofourlives,inourplacesofwork,withourfami-lies,friends,ourunionmembers,ourcommunities,ourCounty,StateandFederalGovernmentsandtheworldingeneral.Withinourworkplaceweseemanychallengesandissuesthatwehaveneverexperiencedbefore,butwemustfaceeachofthosechallengesheadonuntiltheyaredefeated.ThetaskaheadofusasaLaborUnionwillbechallenging,butifwebandtogether,compromiseandworktogetherasone,wecanover-cometheseadversitiesandobstaclesthatmaycomeourway.
Withallthissaid,myhopeanddreamistouniteourmemberstogetherinaccordandtocontinueto
AlohaBrothers&Sisters,ThankstoAllwhovotedforme.
Thisismysecondtermasyour“TEAMMEMBER”ofHawaiiDivision.
IlookforwardtodoingALLIcantoserve,EACHANDEVERYONEOFYOU,themembersofILWU.Iworkforyou!
Whoknowswhatthefurtherholdsforus,but,whateveritis,aslongasWEsticktogetherWEshouldprevail!
It’saprivilegeandhonortobepartoftheGREATESTRANKANDFILEUNION!GETINVOLVED,GETACTIVEANDSTAYINTUNE,
MAHALO!
preservethepathourleadersbeforeusstrivedsodiligentlytoprovide.Bothleadersandmembersinthepastworkedtogetherasateamandasaresult,weresuccessfulindefeat-ingthemanyobstaclesthatstoodintheirway.Theywereabletodothisbynotonlyspeakingthewordsofourmotto—“Aninjurytooneisaninjurytoall”—butactuallylivingit.
ThisistrulywhatIhopetoaccom-plishinmysecondterm,tocontinuetopreserveanduniteourorganiza-tion.Letusthereforecontinueonwiththesamepride,commitmentandunitysofuturegenerationsmaybeabletoproudlyfollowinourfootsteps.
M e e t Y o u r H a w a i i D i v i s i o n O f f i c e r s
Hawaii Division Clerks’ photoson page 8
ILWU 142Hawaii Division100 W. Lanikaula St.Hilo, HI 96720PH: 935-3727FAX: 961-2490
45-3720 Honokaa-Waipio Rd.Honokaa, HI 96727PH: 775-0443FAX: 775-0477
Kaiwi Square74-5565 Luhia St., #A-3aKailua-Kona, HI 96740PH: 329-2070FAX: 331-2571
VOICE ILWUOF
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Division DirectorNate Lum
Business AgentTyrone Tahara
Business AgentDennis Morton
Tsunami or not, Big Island holds annual awards night
Whilemostofthestate—andpos-siblythecountryweretunedtotheirtelevisionsetstoseewhatkindofdamagemightoccurontheHilobayfrontfromapendingtsunamithatwasgeneratedfromanearthquakeinChile—MosesMokeandhisfellowseniorsfromtheHilopensionclubwerebusydecoratingtheHallfortheeveningsfestivities.
Thankfully,theislandofHawaiireceivedthe“allclear”signalatabout2:00p.m.onwhatotherwisemighthavebeenconsideredanother
sunnygorgeousdayinHilo.Inanycase,theILWUHallinHiloisfarabovethedangerzoneandwouldhaveservedasanevacuationcenterhadatidalwavehittheisland.
Theawardsbanquetkickedoffat5:30p.m.withpupusandfellowship.Theoutdoor“ballroom”atKamokuHallwasjustaboutfullofmembers,pensioners,dignitaries,andpoliti-cianswhenHawaiiDivisionDirector,RichardBakerJr,kickedoffthebanquetwitharousingwelcomeandexpressionsofgratitudetothe
By Greg Gauthier, Hawaii Division Business Agent
HILO—Not even the “tsunami that wasn’t” could stop Hawaii Division from enjoying the 33rd Annual Hawaii Division Awards Banquet at the Harry Kamoku Hall in Hilo on the evening of February 27, 2010.
Executive SecretaryLynette Mau
M e e t Y o u r H a w a i i L o n g s h o r e D i v i s i o n O f f i c e r s
Maui Division ClerkJoycelyn Victorino
Maui Division Sr. ClerkJoyce Naruse
Hawaii Division ClerkAnn Chong
Hawaii Division Sr. ClerkSui Sin Coloma
membership.Afterdinner,butbeforethe
awardsweregivenout,PresidentIsaacFiestaJr.gaveamemorablespeechaboutthecurrentstateoftheUnionandtheimportanceofsolidar-ityduringtryingtimes.Afterhisspeech,BrothersIsaacandRichardBakerpresentedawardstothoseunits,editors,andindividualswhohavegoneaboveandbeyondtheirnormaldutiesinthepastyearoryearsinordertobetterthelivesofworkingmenandwomenontheislandofHawaii.
TheHawaiiDivisionAwardsBan-quetisanannualawardsceremonyheldinFebruaryofeachyear.Theticketpriceisusuallyanominalfeethat,inmostcasesispickedupbytheunitsfortheirmemberstoat-tend.“IfyouareanILWUmember,andhaven’thadachancetocome,
gotoyournextUnitExecutiveBoardmeetingandletyourofficersknowthatyouwouldliketocomeoutnexttime,weloveseeingnewfaces,”saidRichardBakerJr.
Thoseunitshonoredasoutstandingunitsforthepastyearwere:Kama-ainaMotors-Unit1413;YamadaDiversifiedCorp.-Unit1412;andTheFairmontOrchid,Hawaii-Unit1515andMLMacadamiaOrchards,LP,Ka‘u-Unit1401.
Thoseeditorsreceivingawardsin-cluded:BestEditorof2008—TheresaCabulizanoftheMaunaLaniBayHotel&Bungalows-Unit1516andBestEditorof2009—StarrPascualofSack&Save(DowntownHilo)-Unit1421.
ThoseindividualshonoredfortheirmanyyearsofservicetoHawaiiDivisionmembersincludedretireesFedericoGaldonesandEliT.Miura.
Thankyoutoallwhosupportedmeandhavegivenmetheoppor-tunitytoserveasyourBusinessAgentforthenewHawaiiLongshoreDivision.Mygoalsinthisthree-yeartermarefirstandforemosttoservicethemembership,andthehandlingof
grievancesanddisputeswithDivisionemployersandtheday-to-dayadmin-istrationoftheLongshoreDivisioncollectivebargainingagreements.
451 Atkinson DriveHonolulu, HI 96814PHONE: 949-4161FAX: 941-9298
ILWU 142Hawaii Longshore
Division
Local President Isaac Fiesta Jr. with Christopher Raymond, representing Unit 1413 - Kamaaina Motors, and Business Agent George Martin.
Unit 1401 - MLMO, LP Ka‘u members and supporters: (L-r) Prosecuting Attorney Jay Kimura, Mark Aurelio, President Isaac Fiesta Jr., Juanita Pedra, Desiree Salmo, Lena Davis-Natividad, Victoria Mattos, Business Agent Elmer Gorospe, Representative Clift Tsuji.
Aurelio Mina representing Unit 1412 - Yamada Diversified Corp. with Business Agent Wallace Ishibashi Jr.
HawaiiDivisionMauiDivision
