Twelve priorities top the list of the ILWU’s Political Program for the 2007 Hawaii State Legislature. The full program contains over 94 points.

Defend the Workers Compensation program which protects injured workers; 
• Maintain the existing “presumption clause” in the Workers’ Compensation law. 
• Provide that injured workers continue to receive workers’ compensation benefits (wages and medical treatment) during any period that their claim is under appeal. Provide for timely payments when a claim is made. 
• Provide that if an injured worker is denied compensability and then wins compensability on appeal, the cost of the appeal will be paid by the insurance carrier. 
• Address problem of physicians declining to treat Workers’ Compensation cases because of the paperwork and/or the low medical fee schedule.

The benefits of union political action

A single worker is powerless to bargain with his employer for good wages and conditions. In the same way, a single voter can’t do much to influence the legislature.

Workers join unions so they can bargain as an organized group, and this pays off in better wages, working conditions, and job security. Likewise, unionized workers can organize their votes, which gives them the power to get laws passed that benefit workers and their families.

Through Union Political Action, working people in Hawaii have passed many good laws that have improved the conditions for all working people. Four examples of these laws are: 1) Workers Compensation Insurance; 2) Temporary Disability Insurance; 3) the Minimum Wage; and 4) the Pre-paid Health Care Act which requires employers to provide medical plans to covered workers. ◆