At the start of this year, President Joe Biden entered the second year of his presidency. After running a campaign that emphasized his pro-labor leanings and solidarity for the working class, he has made consistent efforts on behalf of strengthening unions. When he took office in January 2021, the unemployment rate was 6.4% (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Near the end of his first year in December, it had dropped to 3.9%.

In April of last year, he issued Executive Order 14025 that established a cabinet-wide labor task force called the “Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment.” Earlier this February, this task force produced a report that included 70 distinct policy proposals. Although the bulk of the report focuses on implementing policies for federal workers to organize, this is still good news for workers everywhere.

Other promising features to note are a ban on federal contract dollars going to anti-union activities by the Defense, Health and Human Services and Labor departments. The full report can be found at https://www.documentcloud.org/ documents/21198625-white-house-task-force-worker-organizingand-empowerment-report

Longshore Statewide Caucus gears up for negotiations

The last statewide Longshore Division Caucus was held in March of 2014. This year’s caucus was from February 22 - February 25, 2022. All longshore units in Hawai’i, Alaska and the West Coast ports are going to be heading into negotiations at the same time. This unique convergence is a prime opportunity for a united front when it comes to negotiating with the company. Each day starts with guest speakers, or as Longshore Division Director Dustin Dawson noted, not really ‘guests’ as much as fellow brothers and sisters. Pictured above from left to right are Longshore Vice Division Director Eddie Hayashi, Longshore Division Director Dustin Dawson, Local President Chris West, Local Vice President Corinna Salmo Nguyen and Local Secretary-Treasurer Michael Victorio, Jr.

Pictured above is Chris Ancheta from Unit 4203 Matson Terminals and Jarvis Cruz from Unit 4203 McCabe, Hamilton and Renny Maintenance. ILWU International Vice President Bobby Olvera and ILWU International Secretary-Treasurer Ed Ferris (to the right) were guest speakers that morning, and spent the week going to different rooms of the caucus to answer questions relating to the West Coast ports and providing perspective and input.

Each different classification in the Longshore industry had its own caucus room. The main conference room held the Wharf Clerks from different units. Pictured above from front clockwise is Anthony “Keaka” Sardine from Unit 2201 Kahului Stevedores, Kenny Flores from Unit 4202 Hawaii Stevedores Inc. - Wharf Clerks, Jon Louis Unit 4202, Brian Nakagawa Unit 4202, Henry Kreutz Unit 4202.

“Especially with the pandemic, there were so many things out of our control. Luckily, with the union, we can make proposals to the company, and actually have a shot at making what we want happen.”

-- Kenny Flores Unit 4202 Hawaii Stevedores Inc. -Wharf Clerks

MORE COVERAGE OF CAUCUS TO COME IN NEXT ISSUE