Curtis Helm, Matson
“I became a treasurer because I believe… The more I get involved, the more I can see how it all adds up, from impacting our contract to increasing how many show up to our meetings. This class helped me with another piece of the puzzle to help my fellow members with their concerns, and how to make ourselves stronger. Education is always something we can really build on.”

Kanani Numata, HSI Clericals
“I support the union because the union supports us. I feel so supported through classes like these. I’m new to the union so this class was so helpful. I can see how we could just get stuck without education like this. Because if we didn’t have these kinds of classes we wouldn’t even know what move we could make without asking questions. Now we know fully how many of you are there for us.”

Lori Kikuyama, Foodland
II’ve been a Unit Treasurer for more than seven years. Education keeps us on our toes because change is constant and I want to make sure through it all, everyone is treated fairly. Union means everyone gets treated fairly. I’ve been a cashier for 44 years. And in that time, I’ve seen that any way I can help through the union, makes life better for everyone.”

Mahalo to the Unit Treasurers who stepped up to learn more about this important role in their unit and the union!

The Treasurer Seminars are team-taught by a diverse range of people who help the Local’s financial matters run smoothly day-to-day. Pictured here are IT Specialist Lohe Kaaloa, Local Secretary-Treasurer Brian Tanaka, Longshore Division Secretary-Treasurer Drake Delaforce, Local Accounting Supervisor Matthew Arakawa, and Accountant Lowell Nagaue (not pictured Eadie Omonaka) taking turns quizzing our members at the end of the day on what they learned.

Investing in our membership 
The power of ILWU is only as strong as its members. And we know that an educated membership is an empowered membership.

“I’m a big believer in education because knowledge is power,” said Longshore Division SecretaryTreasurer Drake Delaforce who stays onhand every class to teach.

“This class is a good investment to me: the union invests in you, you invest in the union, and we all win,” said Delaforce to the group of Unit Treasurers in Oahu’s class on November 18.

Money matters 
One of the most frequently asked questions unit officers receive from other members is: “So what do my dues get me?”

Out of all the unit officers, the treasurers have the greatest purview over this concern since they are the direct link between union dues and their unit fund and unit budget.

“I became treasurer because I believe in the union’s benefit for us and all the questions I hear are about money and finances,” said Helen Lott from Unit 4305 Dole Food (Plantation).

On the up-and-up 
The first half of the class was spent on the different vouchers that circulate between the Local and the Unit Treasurer and working within the Unit Finance Policy and Budget.

Transparency is of the utmost importance when it comes to money, and our members are up to the challenge.

“Keep the books straight,” said Eddie Sekigawa, a treasurer from Unit 4409 Island Movers. “Don’t give anyone any reason to doubt your leadership and doubt the union. We have worked too hard for all we have; all the benefits we have were earned, never given!”

Everyone understood what is at stake working with money. All records must be able to withstand the most rigorous scrutiny.

Integrity above all 
The class closed with an exercise that asked the question: “What is the one personality trait or personal value that you think all Unit Treasurers should have or try to develop?”

Every participant was asked to read their response aloud, and an overwhelmingly common answer emerged - the vast majority of them said “Integrity” as the one trait most necessary to doing a good job.

The second-most mentioned quality was transparency.

“Everyone here was elected by the membership,” said Unit Treasurer Annette Fonseca from Unit 4421 Pearl Country Club (Restaurant). “We want to be accountable for the trust they put in us.”

The ILWU Local 142 will continue to stress education, but values like integrity cannot be taught. 

The union will continue to rely on members like these to guide us forward.