Aloha members of the ILWU Local 142. A new year is upon us, and there is much work ahead for all of us. Last year brought unprecedented challenges to the Union as nearly 1,500 of our members lost their homes in the Lahaina wildfires. More than five months later, hundreds of our members remain without long-term housing, and while government efforts are underway, progress is incremental.
But social and economic struggles in Hawaiʻi today touch us all. The cost of housing and the cost of living in Hawaiʻi are driving local families out of our islands. While Hawaiʻi has the highest union density in the United States, the islands have among the lowest wages in the country. It is more important than ever that we have a strong union with members who are willing to mobilize for positive change.
Strong unions, of course, begin in the workplace - with good contracts that are enforced by the members.
While ILWU members have seen record-breaking contracts in the past two years, we still have much work to do across Units and industries. And with several ILWU contracts set to expire this year, this is our top priority in 2024.
Strong contracts, ones our members need and deserve, can only come one way - with unified, engaged, and mobilized members who are willing to be active participants in their Units. This is how ILWU members at Foodland got the contract they did. This is how members at the King Kamehameha Hotel got the contract they did. And this is how you will get the contract you deserve, too.
Good contracts are part of the equation for a better life in our beloved islands. Political action - persuading decision makers and lawmakers in government to work toward the betterment of working local families in Hawaiʻi is another part. Not only are we in the beginning of the 2024 legislative session, we are also in an election year with all of the state senate and half of the state house seats up for grabs. This legislative session will be a test for lawmakers on whether they serve working families or corporate interests. And that test will determine who we endorse and how we mobilize come campaign season.
Strong contracts, ones our members need and deserve, can only come one way - with unified, engaged, and mobilized members who are willing to be active participants in their Units. This is how ILWU members at Foodland got the contract they did. This is how members at the King Kamehameha Hotel got the contract they did. And this is how you will get the contract you deserve, too.
Good contracts are part of the equation for a better life in our beloved islands. Political action - persuading decision makers and lawmakers in government to work toward the betterment of working local families in Hawaiʻi is another part. Not only are we in the beginning of the 2024 legislative session, we are also in an election year with all of the state senate and half of the state house seats up for grabs. This legislative session will be a test for lawmakers on whether they serve working families or corporate interests. And that test will determine who we endorse and how we mobilize come campaign season.
But just like the boss is convinced he must do the right thing when the rank-and-file members stand behind their negotiation team, politicians are convinced to do the right thing when union members show up for important legislation that impacts their lives.
“From the bottom up” unionism means “from the bottom up” social and economic change. From the shop floor to the negotiations table to the legislative halls - united we win, divided we lose.
This puts a heavy kuleana on all of us. But it is not rocket science. It’s commitment. As your president, I am asking you to commit to two things in 2024: raise your expectations, and increase your involvement in the Union.
There are expectations we should all share as union members. For example, we should all expect every full-time officer, (Titled Officers, Division Directors, Business Agents) to do their very best to fulfill their duties. Likewise, we should expect each other, every union member , to educate ourselves on how the Union works, attend union meetings, and take action as needed.
When expectations — continued on page 4
“From the bottom up” unionism means “from the bottom up” social and economic change. From the shop floor to the negotiations table to the legislative halls - united we win, divided we lose.
This puts a heavy kuleana on all of us. But it is not rocket science. It’s commitment. As your president, I am asking you to commit to two things in 2024: raise your expectations, and increase your involvement in the Union.
There are expectations we should all share as union members. For example, we should all expect every full-time officer, (Titled Officers, Division Directors, Business Agents) to do their very best to fulfill their duties. Likewise, we should expect each other, every union member , to educate ourselves on how the Union works, attend union meetings, and take action as needed.
When expectations — continued on page 4
“As your president, I am asking you to commit to two things in 2024: raise your expectations and increase your involvement in the Union.”
