The Hawaii Medical Center’s bankruptcy forced the closure of its Ewa and Liliha hospitals on January 4, of this year. Grievances were filed on 21-day notice, WARN Act and PTO payment for our members. The unit will move forward with the disbursement of the unit fund. It is unfortunate, not only for our members to lose their jobs, but for the community to lose its hospitals. State senators want to know how medical services have been affected with these closures. They will be meeting with representatives from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, the state Department of Health, Queens Medical Center, Hawaii Pacific Health, Kaiser, HMSA and Honolulu’s Emergency Medical Services Department. This meeting will help lawmakers figure out what direction the state will need to head in regards to healthcare issues.
Tourism caucus: momentum rolling at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel
KOHALA COAST, Hawaii— Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel Negotiating Committee members quickly took to heart the lessons learned at the recent Tourism Caucus held in Maui on October 19, 2011 by beginning their mobilization drive for their 2012 negotiations. The Unit Executive Board at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel voted to support what they call a “pay-day table,” which effectively allows at least two unit leaders to engage with the members on the job site, for most of the day on the two paydays each month for up to six months prior to the negotiations. Their current contract expires on May 31, 2012. “As leaders we need to invite our members to participate in their future through negotiations,” states James Moeller, Unit Chairman for the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, who adds, “We will be doing our best to be on the jobsite for as many paydays as possible before negotiations.”
The Hotel/Tourism Caucus inspired the unit officers in the importance of mobilizing to maintain and to increase key benefits such as higher pension contributions from their respective employers, and the importance of the Union’s health and welfare trust funds.
Unit Chair James Moeller (right) and Unit Vice Chair Syvelle DeRego run a “Pay Day Table” station, meeting with members one-on-one to discuss the upcoming negotiations and fill out a combined demographic information and negotiations issues survey.
Martin Luther King Day Parade
HONOLULU—Martin Luther King, Jr. was formally made an honorary member of ILWU Local 10 in September 1967 for his good works in fighting for civil rights and the cause of labor. In fact, his final speech was delivered to a crowd of striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee. The next day he was assassinated.
ILWU members, pensioners, employees and family members took part in the parade on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, January 16, 2012. In honor of the late King’s dream to be heard, the ILWU and supporting unions marched past Pacific Beach Hotel chanting in support for the workers (chant leaders pictured below).
