HONOLULU—Gordon Young said it well—”I don’t like to get an award for doing something I love doing. You,” he said, speaking to the room full of ILWU members, “should all get awards for volunteering your time to help your fellow employees.”
This and similar sentiments were expressed again and again by the unit leaders and retirees who were honored by the ILWU’s Oahu Division in a special program at its Executive Board meeting on February 25, 2005.
It’s the union’s version of the Academy Awards that recognizes excellence and outstanding leadership and service within the union. Like the Academy Awards, there are different categories — Outstanding Unit, Outstanding Unit Leader, Outstanding Steward, Inspirational Leader, Community Service, and Outstanding Unit Editor.
Before each award is presented and before naming the honoree, the servicing business agent tells a short story about what the unit or member did to deserve the award, and then the winner is announced. The honoree gets up to accept the award and will often say a few words. This awards format is unique to Oahu Division and they do it very well.
The stories are sometimes touching, sometimes remarkable, and always shows the close relationship that develops between the business agent and unit leaders.
Outstanding Unit
There were three winners in the Outstanding Unit category, based on the number of members in the unit—Schuman Carriage for less than 50 members, Honolulu Ford for 50-99 members, and Honolulu Advertiser for more than 100 members.
Shane Ambrose, the business agent servicing the Schuman Carriage Unit, explained how members of the unit stuck together to defend their rights, when the family owned business decided to end its GM dealership and permanently lay off the remaining 41 ILWU members at its Beretania facility in November 2004. Company Chairman Gustav “Dutchy” Schuman, grandson of the company’s founder, was 75 years old and wanted to get out of the business and retire.
Unit 4406 - The Honolulu Advertiser won several awards besides being selected Outstanding Unit, 100+ Members. Patrick DeCosta was honored as Outstanding Steward, and both the Unit Leader of the Year award and the David E. Thompson award Statewide Excellence in a unit bulletin were presented to Gordon Young. (L-r) DeCosta, Unit Chairperson Lance Kamada, Young, and Business Agent Michael Yamaguchi, who also hails from the unit.
Kurt Ishihara, John Figueroa, Calvin Nashiro, Richard Desmond, and Ben Rodrigriues (far right) accept the award for Outstanding Unit, 1-49 Members from Business Agent Shane Ambrose (second from right) on behalf of Unit 4411 - Schuman Carriage Motors, Ltd. Ishihara also received one of two Outstanding Steward awards.
Business agent Michael Yamaguchi thanked and praised the Honolulu Ford Unit for helping him out as a new business agent, who was getting involved in negotiations in the auto industry for the first time. “We got a good contract,” Michael said, as he called Jeff Ramos and Vince Hiu to accept their award.
Michael also services the 250- member Honolulu Advertiser Unit, which successfully overcame a lot of obstacles in a difficult 15-month long negotiations. The negotiations had to deal with the end of the joint operating agreement with the Star Bulletin, the move from downtown Honolulu to a new $70 million state-of-the-art printing plant in Kapolei, and all the operational changes that come with new equipment and a new facility.
Outstanding Unit Leader
Charles Butler the unit chair from National Car Rental was named the Outstanding Unit Leader for units with less than 100 members. “He is truly a leader,” said Shane Ambrose, as he introduced Charles. “He talks union, walks union, and successfully fought an attempt to get the union out of National Car by educating members about the union.”
(L-r) Vince Hiu, Business Agent Michael Yamaguchi, and Jeff Ramos. Vince and Jeff accept the award for Outstanding Unit, 50-99 Members, on behalf of Unit 4410 - Honolulu Ford.
Unit 4427 - National Car Rental Business Agent Shane Ambrose and Unit Chairperson Charles Butler. Butler received one of two Unit Leader of the Year awards for his dedication, hard work and leadership at National.
Michael Yamaguchi introduced Gordon Young, the secretarytreasurer from the Honolulu Advertiser Unit, as the Outstanding Leader for units with more than 100 members. “Gordon came out to almost every event to help our union endorsed candidates, came to every division board meeting, helped with organizing, is involved in political action, and volunteers his time in many other ways.”
Outstanding Steward
Two awards were given to Outstanding Stewards—Kurt Ishihara from Schuman Carriage for units with less than 50 members and Patrick DeCosta from the Honolulu for units with more than 100 members.
“This award is for these people as well. I couldn’t have done this without them.” said Kurt Ishihara, as he named other unit leaders from Schuman Carriage—Ben Rodrigues, Calvin Nashiro, and Richard Desmond. Kurt was named the “Outstanding Steward” for his work in standing up for his fellow Schuman members and keeping them solid in the months before the company closed.
Patrick DeCosta also gave credit to his other unit officers at the Honolulu Advertiser. “They supported me and served as good examples,” Patrick said.
Inspirational Leader
Elizabeth Dupio from Dole Plantation Store won the Inspirational Leader award for units with less than 50 members. Business agent Brandon BajoDaniel explained how the Dole Plantation Store is still a brand new unit and the unit leaders are still learning their job and gaining experience. “Elizabeth is a true leader,” Brandon said. “She volunteers, calls me all the time, and keeps her members together.”
“It is all of YOU leaders who inspire me.” said Eddie Sekigawa of Island Movers, as he accepted the Inspirational Leader award for units with more than 100 members.
Outstanding Unit Editors
Gordon Young won the David E. Thompson Award for Statewide Excellence for his work on the unit bulletin he produces for members of the Honolulu Advertiser. The award is named after David Thompson who started the ILWU’s unit bulletin program and many other education programs while serving as the first education director of Local 142.
The award for the Best Unit Bulletin for Oahu Division went to Mary Ann Abregano and Ruby Shimabukuro who co-edit the bulletin for members of Foodland Stores.
Community Service
The Community Service Award is not based on size of the unit— instead, it is given to one current or active member and one retired member for outstanding work in political action, membership service, or volunteerism within the union.
“This brother is unreal,” Shane Amborse revealed as he introduced Kenneth Ige from Servco Pacific as the active member who won the Community Service Award. “He’s involved in membership services, political action, sports—you can count on this guy. He’s number one.”
Business agent Larry Ruiz introduced Fred Lee as the winner of the Community Service Award for retired members. “Even though he retired from the union many years ago and has to have regular dialysis treatment, Fred remains active with the union and helps with political action,” Larry said. “Fred is an inspiration for all of us.”
Kenneth Ige of Unit 4412 - Servco Pacific receives a Community Service award from Business Agent Brandon Bajo-Daniel. Ige was honored for his volunteerism in the ILWU sports program, political action program, and membership service projects.
Business Agent and Oahu pensioner program coordinator Larry Ruiz presents a Community Service award to former ILWU Contract Administrator Fred Lee. Although retired, Lee remains very active in the ILWU, particularly in the Oahu pension clubs program and in political action.
Eddie Sekigawa (right) of Unit 4409 - Island Movers receives one of two Inspirational Leader awards. The other was presented to Unit 4436 - Dole Plantation’s Chairperson Elizabeth Dupio (below, right) who is building her newly organized unit.
Fred explained that the dialysis is not so bad. “I’m out of action on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday when I go in for treatment. But this means I’m up and ready to go on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.”
“This is all for love,” Fred said. “I do this because I love this union.”