HONOLULU—Retired ILWU Oahu Division Director and long-time ILWU leader Jose Corpuz passed away on December 18, 2002. Jose retired from the ILWU in 1991, after 45 years of active involvement in the labor movement.

Jose Corpuz was a “sakada,” one of 6,000 Filipino laborers brought to Hawaii by the sugar planters in the last major importation of workers. These workers arrived in 1946, the same year that ILWU sugar workers struck the sugar industry. Thousands of miles away from home and in a new country, Jose and his fellow Sakada showed great courage when they chose to join ranks with the striking ILWU sugar workers. Sugar workers were struggling to improve their wages and working conditions after a booming war time economy had left them far behind other workers. It was a historic display of working class unity.

Jose began work as a weeder at Waialua Sugar Company in 1946.

Jose Corpuz served as the voice of the ILWU on its Filipino language radio show from 1963 until his retirement in 1991.

Jose Corpuz (right) at an ILWU Local 142 Executive Board meeting with ILWU founder and International President Harry Bridges (left), August 1973.

During the strike, Jose was active in educating other Filipinos about the need for all working people to be united in a union. When the strike ended in victory, Jose became even more active in the union.

He was appointed as the steward for newly hired workers in his camp, and quickly moved up the union ranks to camp steward chairman, then steward council chairman. In 1949, Jose was elected unit treasurer for Waialua and a year later was elected vice-chairman.

Jose’s strong leadership and commitment to union principles was recognized and appreciated throughout the union. In 1952, Jose waselected Oahu business agent and in 1964, Oahu Division Director. As Division Director, Jose could often be
found helping his business agents by visiting units and taking care of members’ problems. Oahu has the largest number of units and general trade groups in the union, which kept Jose quite busy.

Jose was also the voice of the ILWU on its daily Filipino language radio program, which he diligently maintained for 28 years, ever since he took over the program in 1963. Jose served as Division Director until his retirement in 1991, serving
for more than 25 years as the top ILWU officer for Oahu.

In addition to his work with the ILWU, Jose actively dedicated much of his time to his community as the president of the Kawailoa Filipino Community; president of the Kawailoa PTA; officer in the Waialua Filipino Community; treasurer of the
United Filipino Oahu; and Fiesta Chairman of the State Filipino Council.

Much of Jose Corpuz’s success can be attributed to the patience of his wife Angelita and children Jovita, Jeanette, Roger, Merilyn, Jose Jr., and Dave.

The ILWU Local 142 would like to express its deepest appreciation to Jose Corpuz for the many years he has dedicated to the development of the Union.

Hundreds of thousands of workers were brought to Hawaii to work on the sugar and pineapple plantations. Many of them stayed in Hawaii, and through their hard work and struggles for a better life, made a living for their families and built Hawaii into a modern, democratic society.