Pictured above is the last ILWU International Convention that was held in Portland, Oregon in June 2018. A total of 349 delegates and 40 fraternal delegates attended, along with up to 100 observers who witnessed the triannual meeting; about a third of this number were from Hawaii’s ILWU Local 142. Local 142 is one of over 60 local unions, the Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific, and ILWU Canada which make up the International ILWU. This convention is hosted every three years by a different city, rotating through seven areas of the United States and Canada where workers are organized by the ILWU. This year’s geographical rotation would have been San Francisco. However, since it is dangerous to gather in groups this large during the pandemic, the International Convention will be held virtually. Stay tuned for more information on how to participate in this year’s virtual International Convention

2021 will be a busy year for ILWU democracy... 
There will be two major meetings (i.e. conventions) -- the International Convention and Local Convention -- where ILWU members will have the opportunity to set the policies and direction of their union.

First up is the International Convention which is scheduled for June, 2021. This was originally supposed to be held in-person in San Francisco. Please read below for more information on the decision to hold the Convention online. More details to follow (including the official call to Convention) in the next issue of the Voice.

The following has been reprinted from the Dispatcher

Because of the ongoing pandemic, the 2021 ILWU International Convention, originally scheduled as an in-person event in San Francisco, will be held as an online event.

There are a number of serious and consequential roadblocks for holding an in-person event based on current San Francisco ordinances, hotel restrictions, and guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. For these reasons, it is impossible to predict whether or not we can safely and effectively host an in-person convention in June 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused devastation around the world since the beginning of 2020 and has continued to spread in a frightening and spectacular fashion. In the United States alone, millions of people have been infected with this insidious virus and over 400,000 have lost their lives to COVID-19

Currently, we are experiencing the worst surge of the pandemic, producing record numbers of daily infections and deaths. Hospitals are at the breaking point. We do not take this information lightly, especially when it concerns our members’ health and safety.

The ILWU International Convention and staff explored every available option for safely and effectively holding the ILWU Convention during a pandemic.

At this time, only one option allows us to eliminate the risk posed to the health and safety of everyone (delegates, officers, and staff) and ensure that every delegate has a fair chance to participate. For these reasons, we can only guarantee a safe and equal convention experience for all by holding a fully virtual convention.

Delaying this decision is not an option. The officers and staff must move forward with preparations for the 2021 ILWU International Convention and eliminate any remaining financial liability associated with hosting an in-person event.

We collectively share in the great disappointment of not having an inperson ILWU Convention in 2021. However, the protection of the health and safety of our members and staff must take precedence above all other considerations, especially during this deadly global pandemic.