Panama Division
 International solidarity within the ranks of the ILWU has resulted in continued growth in the new Panama Division. The connection between the ILWU and Panama Canal Pilots Union began during the 2002 lockout, when the ILWU longshore negotiating committee was seeking international support and met Londor Rankin of the Panama Canal Pilots Union.

During the years that followed, Vice President Familathe and President McEllrath encouraged discussions of a possible alliance, and in September of 2011 the Panama Canal Pilots Union voted to affiliate with the ILWU and the new Panama Division was established.

During the years that followed, Vice President Familathe and President McEllrath encouraged discussions of a possible alliance, and in September of 2011 the Panama Canal Pilots Union voted to affiliate with the ILWU and the new Panama Division was established.

That’s when ILWU leaders joined with the Panama Division to support an honest and open election process. When that finally happened, dockworkers at Panama Ports voted for their own independent SINTRAPORSPA union led by Secretary-General Alberto Ochoa. On December 30, 2014, SINTRAPORSPA and the ILWU signed an affiliation agreement welcoming 2,850 dockworkers into the Panama Division.

Panama affiliate representatives with the International Officers at the 36th ILWU International Convention. In late 2011, an alliance between Panama Pilots and ILWU brought about the establishment of the ILWU Panama Division. In December last year, Panama dockworkers joined the pilots and affiliated with the ILWU Panama Division. For more information, see the January 2015 issue of The Dispatcher, available online at www.ilwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ DispatcherJAN2015lores.pdf.

Alberto Ochoa, Secretary-General of SINTRAPORSPA, delivered his remarks in Spanish that were translated by Secretary-General Raniero Salas of the Pilots Union. Ochoa said he brought greetings from his fellow dockworkers in Panama who just won their first independent union contract that will increase pay by 35% over the next four years, crediting the ILWU Panama Division for helping to make it possible. “The ILWU has been instrumental in growing our union in Panama. We are grateful for the support you have provided us and hope to continue receiving your help which has given us great results,” said Ochoa.

The Pilots are now trying to negotiate a new contract with the Panama Canal Authority, which has been resisting a fair settlement. Members of the Pilots Union, including Secretary-General Raniero Salas, explained their contract struggle to convention delegates who responded with a strong showing of support by unanimously adopting a solidarity resolution (R-3).

New organizing challenges 
Two detailed organizing reports were presented to the Convention delegates, one for Hawaii and the other covering the mainland, with both emphasizing the challenges involved with organizing new workers.

Hawaii 
International Vice President (Hawaii) Wesley Furtado delivered the Hawaii organizing report, noting that 85% of their union drives have resulted in a first contract. The biggest challenge facing organizing today is that employers are requiring applicants to apply online instead of conducting open interviews as in the past. Gone are the days when organizers met the applicants at the interview site and spoke to them “one-on-one,” and had the union authorization cards ready for

According to Gwendolyn Wenio, Unit 3401 - Kauai Coffee Chair, “I didn’t know that being a delegate was going to be hard work—several long committee sessions—but was glad to attend. I learned that problems faced at other workplaces are huge compared to the problems that we face at my workplace.”

Constitutional Amendments and Program Policies

C-1 Convention Locations - updates the rotation of the Convention to eight areas of the ILWU: Oregon/Columbia River Area - 2018; Panama - 2021; Northern California Area - 2024; ILWU Canada - 2027; Washington/Puget Sound/Alaska - 2030; Southern California Area - 2033; Hawaii - 2036. 

C-3 Ex-officio Member – clarifies language that this member is not determined by the regular nomination and election procedure. The number of members in the local determines this member and if the designated representation of the local cannot attend the IEB meeting, their replacement is selected by the local. 

C-4 Industrial Groupings – addition of language to maintain five IEB seats from Hawaii should an industrial grouping ceases to exist between Conventions. 

C-5 Rental Reimbursement – raises rental subsidy from $2,000.00 to $4,000.00 per month for Titled Officers who relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area or in the case of International Vice President (Hawaii), to Oahu.

 C-7 Extending Membership In Auxiliaries – changes the eligibility for membership in auxiliaries from “immediate women relatives” to “relatives” of all workers (excluding casuals) associated with the ILWU. 

C-9 Geographic jurisdiction – with the creation of the Panama Canal Division, Panama was added to be included in the geographic jurisdiction of the ILWU. 

C-13 Oakland Army Base Organizing – commits ILWU to an organizing campaign to organize the Oakland Global in the Port of Oakland. 

C-14 Organizing Marine Logistic Workers – commits ILWU to organizing tug and towboat operators. 

C-15 Organizing Needs More Boots on the Ground – commits ILWU to add additional organizing department staff to support organizing drives identified by each area.