The new Medicare prescription drug benefit (also known as Medicare Part D) will start up on January 1, 2006. That's just six months away, but most Medicare beneficiaries know very little about the benefit or how to get it.

That's because, unlike the rest of Medicare, the prescription benefit will not be offered directly by the federal government iself but by private insurers (like Kaiser and HMSA) instead. These insurers can't say anything about their plans yet because they're still waiting to hear if their plans have been approved or not.

In fact, the earliest insurers can say anything about their plans is October. That's when they will mail letters to retirees, put ads in the newspaper and television— and make life very confusing for anyone with Medicare.

The ILWU knows this is coming and wants to help ILWU retirees. Meetings will be held in various locations statewide for ILWU retirees to get information from representatives about plan benefits and premiums.

If you are a retiree, please attend one of these meetings before making any decision to enroll in a plan.

Also, if you have a drug plan through your employer, contact your employer.

A schedule of meetings should be developed by October and meetings will be announced in the Voice of the ILWU, through pensioner clubs, and through the Units and Divisions.

If you'd like to attend, call the ILWU Division near you:

Hawaii Division (Hilo) - 935-3727 
Hawaii Division (Waimea) - 885-6136 
Maui Division (Wailuku) - 244-9191 
Kauai Division (Lihue) - 245-3374 
Oahu Division (Honolulu) - 949-4161

If you have any questions about Medicare Part D, contact Joanne Kealoha, ILWU Social Services Coordinator, in Honolulu at 949-4161.

Around the Union

Hyatt Regency Kauai now a Grand Hyatt

Poipu, KAUAI—Following a multi-million dollar renovation to guestrooms and suites, meeting space and public areas, the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort and Spa has moved up in status to join a small, exclusive group of 23 Grand Hyatt hotels around the world. In the next few months, work should be completed on an additional 5,000 square foot garden treatment area to the resorts ANARA Spa.

The Grand Hyatt Kauai is the ILWU’s largest unit on the island with 644 members. Hyatt manages the hotel and the property is owned by Kawailoa Development, a subsidiary of the Japanbased Takenaka Corporation. Takanaka is one of Japan's oldest architectural, engineering and construction firms with a 400 year history. The company now operates in 18 countries with annual sales of $9 billion.

Hyatt operates 213 hotels and resorts in 43 countries. Most of these, 169 properties, are what the company calls Regency type hotels. Then there are a handful of Grand Hyatt and Park Hyatt hotels which represent the best of the Hyatt brand.

The Grand Hyatts provide upgraded services from the standard Regency type hotel and are equipped to meet the specialized needs of business and corporate travelers with state-of-the art technology and conference facilities. Grand Hyatts also feature more restaurants, additional lobby lounges, 24-hour business travel services, secretarial and meeting support, and fitness and recreational facilities.

Park Hyatts are the other exclusive group of Hyatt hotels. These are smaller, five-star luxury hotels that cater to individual travelers. There are only 21 Park Hyatts worldwide—seven are located in the United States. ◆

ILWU organizes 480 workers at Pacific Beach

HONOLULU—On August 10, 2005, the final ballots were counted in an election for union representation at Pacific Beach Hotel.

The ballot count supported union representation by a single vote. The final count was 180 to 179 for the ILWU. There were over 480 eligible voters at the hotel. The election results were certified by the National Labor Relations Board on August 15.

This vote is the culmination of a three-year effort by workers and the ILWU to organize the hotel. In a previous 2002 election the union lost by a handful of votes after challenged ballots were opened. The NLRB overturned that election due to improper conduct by the hotel.

Work will now begin on negotiating the first contract with the hotel. The hotel’s owner, HTH Corporation, recently signed off on a labor contract with the ILWU at HTH’s property in Kona, King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. HTH Corporation also owns and manages the Pagoda Hotel in Honolulu.

The ILWU represents about 11,000 hotel workers in Hawaii. ◆

In memory of Willie Abear

WAHIAWA—Long-time ILWU member and rank-and-file leader Willie Abear of Wahiawa passed away on July 15, 2005.

Abear was well-known in his community as an outstanding baseball and basketball player, and later as a coach for the children of Poamoho Camp.

“I’ve known Willie for 44 years,” said Poamoho resident Vaeleti Tyrell. “He lived down the road with two houses between us. He was a really nice guy. If somebody is in trouble, he is the first one to come out and say, ‘hey, we have to take care of this, we have to help these people.’ ”

“Willie was instrumental in mobilizing members to come out for any type of union event, especially political action,” said Oahu pineapple industry Business Agent Brandon Bajo-Daniel. “If the union needed help, he was always there, and he brought many others out with him. He was that well-liked and well-respected.”

Division Director Dave Mori noted that a poem written by Abear’s children on their father’s passing asks the question, “We wonder if we ever thanked you enough for the sacrifices you made.” Mori said, “We at Oahu Division could never have thanked Willie enough. He was one of our most dedicated, dependable, and respected union leaders. All the help that he has given to his membership over the years will never be forgotten.”

Abear is survived by wife Janet, brothers Ted and James, sisters Carmen, Della, and Edith, children Elizabeth, Yvonne, Jennifer, Joyce, Andrew and Allan, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. ◆