WAILEA, Maui—“No contract, no peace,” is the loud and clear message union members are sending to their bosses as they begin contract talks with Grand Wailea Resort & Spa management. Contract talks have only just begun but already members have held one rally and are planning more demonstrations during the busy holiday season. The unit’s negotiating committee purposely allowed the old contract to expire without an extension. With no contract in effect, workers are free to picket, wave signs, or strike the hotel.

hotel. Management’s arrogance and continued ill-treatment of employees have led to the anger, frustration, and resentment being expressed by

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Grand Wailea rally for a fair contract on December 7

Best Wishes this Holiday Season—from the Officers and staff of ILWU 142

Galdones elected president

Fred Galdones was elected president of ILWU Local 142, defeating Ray Camacho by 931 votes in statewide balloting among ILWU members held in November. Galdones received 5,179 votes or 55 percent of the total, while Camacho received 4,248 votes or 45 percent. Pending any valid challenges to the election, Galdones would serve a three-year term of office, beginning on January 2, 2004.

Galdones was formerly the Hawaii Division Director and Camacho was formerly the Oahu Division Director.

Donna Domingo was elected vice-president with a vote of 5,124, defeating Thomas Contrades, who received 4,138 votes. Guy Fujimura was unopposed as secretary-treasurer.

Results of the Local 142 election were released on December 17, 2003. Candidates have ten days after the results are announced to challenge the election.

The complete election results for all other races will be published in the December 2004 Voice of the ILWU. Following are the division-by-division results of the statewide voting for titled officers.

Pineapple members ready for negotiations after 14-month delay

(L-r) Contract Administrator Michael Murata and pineapple negotiating committee members Earl Totten (chair), Robert Faborito and Avelino Martin (vice chairs).

HONOLULU—Forty delegates from 10 pineapple units met in Honolulu on December 4 and 5 to prepare for negotiations delayed after two contract extensions. The first extension was due to the turbulent situation in the West Coast longshore negotiations following the lockout by employers and the intervention of the federal government with a Taft-Hartley injunction. The second extension was due to the buildup to the war on Iraq and the uncertainty of how the war would affect Hawaii’s economy. The original contract expired on November 30, 2002, but was extended for 14 months to January 31, 2004.

The delegates were anxious to get back to the bargaining table with management to deal with ongoing problems and unresolved issues.

Earl Totten from Del Monte Fresh Fruit chaired the caucus, Avelino Martin from Dole Wahiawa and Bobby Faborito from Maui Pine were elected vice chairs, and Darlene Palmerton from Del Monte Kunia served as secretary.

Three companies will be involved in negotiations—Dole, Del Monte, and Maui Land and Pineapple.

Following a change in the ILWU Constitution made in 2000, Maui Pine will have three additional representatives on the union committee—Doug Cabading (trades), Glenn Murayama (cannery), and Marcelino Bonilla (intermittents).