“Units” are what we call the ILWU organization at your workplace. This means that sometime in the past, the workers at your company organized and a majority voted to unionize with the ILWU. The workers then negotiated a collective bargaining agreement (also called union contract) with your employer which puts in writing your wages, benefits, working conditions, and rights on the job.

The contract defines which workers are covered by the union sometimes referred as the bargaining unit. Some categories of workers—such as supervisors, management personnel, confidential employees, or security guards—are excluded by law.

Units are democratic. Every worker covered by the union contract is a member of the unit and the ILWU. Unit members elect their own officers and union stewards to help members on the job. Unit members also elect their negotiating committee to negotiate the union contract.

Units should hold regular membership meetings where members may discuss what is happening in the workplace and propose policies for the unit and the ILWU. Unit members elect delegates to the ILWU Local 142 Convention, which is held every three years (the next one is scheduled for September 2018)

The ILWU Convention gives ILWU members the power to set union policy, to vote on the union’s finances and budget, to hear reports on the work of the union, and to approve future union programs.

In November 2018, after the Local 142 Convention, all ILWU members will have the opportunity to vote for the union’s statewide officers. ILWU members of each Division (Hawaii Island, Maui County, Kauai, Oahu, and Longshore statewide) will also vote to elect their Division officers such as business agents, division directors, and executive board members.

Get involved in your union 
Take an active part in shaping your working life. Get to know your union stewards and get involved with union activities. The union is only as strong as its members.

Come to union meetings. 
You’ll learn about your rights as a worker. It’s an education that will make you a better person and your employment at your company more rewarding. Your participation in the union is always welcome and you will be glad you got involved. Meeting notices are posted on your union bulletin board, along with other important announcements.

Make it a practice to regularly read the notices on your union bulletin board.

Know your rights under the contract
 Your union contract is a written agreement with your employer. It defines your wages, benefits, conditions of employment, and rights. It is enforceable through a grievance procedure and ultimately in a court of law.

Read and understand your rights and benefits under the union contract and the ILWU Constitution. You can get copies from your union representative.

Most union contracts are renegotiated every three years, although some contracts run for only one year and others run for as long as six years. How long the contract runs is up to you and your negotiating committee.

Members have a say in negotiations 
The ILWU is a democratic union and members are involved in every step of the negotiation process.

Before the old contract expires, the union members at your company will be asked for their input and ideas on what to change in the contract. This is usually done at a membership meeting, called by the officers of your Unit.

This is one good reason why you should attend union meetings—it’s your chance to improve your union contract. Your unit will also select a committee to represent them in negotiations with management. This committee is usually composed of your elected unit officers, but many units will expand the committee to make sure different parts of your unit are represented. 

A hotel unit, for example, might select a committee with members from different departments like housekeeping, food and beverage, maintenance, and front desk.

The Local or Division office will also assign a full-time business agent or officer to work with your negotiating committee as your spokesperson.

During negotiations, unit members may be asked to support their committee by wearing union buttons, attending rallies, and mobilizing in other activities.

When your committee thinks a fair settlement with management has been reached, they must get your vote of approval before the new contract can be finalized.

This happens at a membership meeting where your committee will report on the settlement and where your unit members can vote to accept or reject the settlement.

This is another part of ILWU democracy which requires membership approval for all contract settlements. In rare cases, management may refuse to agree to a fair settlement and your committee may ask you to authorize a strike. Again, ILWU democracy requires membership approval for a strike.

Your union contract is a very important document. You should read the contract and be familiar with its terms.

You should challenge management whenever they violate the contract. You can get a copy of your contract from your unit officers.