Unit Membership
The Unit is where our membership lives, works, meets and acts. The Unit is where the contract is broken or enforced. The Unit is where our membership sees the Union in action each day.
The Unit is the link between the Local and Division and the membership. When the Unit is weak or is not functioning the chain is weakened or broken. If the Unit functions properly, the chain is strong and the Union is stronger.
Each Unit should conduct a Unit Membership Meeting at least once a year and more often if needed.
Unit Executive Board
Each Unit should have an Executive Board (UEB). The UEB reviews the work of the Local and Division, deals with the business of that Unit, and coordinates programs on the Unit level, such as membership services, political action, and other Union programs.
The UEB consists of the Officers of that Unit (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer), the Chairs of any committees in that Unit, such as membership services or political action, and Shop Stewards.
The UEB should meet regularly to plan meetings of general membership, to review the work of the Unit Committees, to review and act on grievances and other problems of the Unit, and to take care of any business that affects the membership in that Unit.
Division Executive Board
Each Division of Local 142 has a Division Executive Board (DEB) which meets monthly. The DEB reviews the work of the Local, keeps track of the units in their Division and takes care of the work of the Union that affects that Division.
The DEB consists of the Division Director, the Business Agents, the Unit Officers, and Unit Committee Chairs.
Local Executive Board
The Local Executive Board (LEB) is the second highest policy-making body. It takes care of the work of the Union between conventions, but must conform to the Constitution and Local Convention policies.
The LEB is composed the three Local Titled Officers, four Industrial Grouping members (one from each grouping, elected by the membership at-large), and four Division Directors, four Division Trustees and four Division Board members (one elected from each of the four Island Divisions). Hawaii International Executive Board members also sit on the LEB with voice, but no vote.
The LEB meets four times a year, and its decisions and actions are reported to the membership in detailed minutes.
Local Convention
The Local Convention is a special meeting of the Union’s leadership and rank-and-file delegates elected by the membership of each Unit. A Unit consists of the members at each company under an ILWU contract. Representation from each unit is based on their membership – roughly one official delegate for every 250 members. Units may send additional observers at the Unit’s expense.
The Local Convention is the highest policy-making body in the ILWU and meets once every three years in September. The last Local Convention was held in 2012, the next Local Convention will be in 2015, 2018, and so on.
Four important things happen at the Local Convention:
- Policies and programs are adopted which guide the work of the Union
- The operating budget is reviewed and adopted
- Changes can be made to the Constitution
- The three highest officers of the Local are nominated: President, Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer
The work of the Convention must then be approved by the membership. Special meetings are held to report to the membership and to vote to approve Convention actions. Once approved, the Convention program is binding on all Officers and members of the Union.