community by tourists, and
through such regulations,
building up a new work
force of tour guides
from their community to
take permitted tourists
around. She emphasized
the important role of the
hotel unions in exploring
solutions that also protect
jobs and workers.
On Wednesday evening, FTO’s sharpened their thinking around housing issues. Local 142’s intern, Pōmai Kauahi Daniels did a presentation on the history of the ILWU’s organizing and action around affordable housing. President Emeritus Fred Galdones
On Wednesday evening, FTO’s sharpened their thinking around housing issues. Local 142’s intern, Pōmai Kauahi Daniels did a presentation on the history of the ILWU’s organizing and action around affordable housing. President Emeritus Fred Galdones
negotiation table or in mobilizing
members. “It’s hard work. You can
do everything right, and sometimes
it comes out wrong. Push through it,
learn, and keep going.”
Wolff emphasized the importance of character, of staying connected to members with the goal of building unity, of committing to mastering skills, and of having the courage to do what is right. “It’s important that we all do what is right for the right reasons - no matter how hard or who we’re up against”, Wolff shared. “Without courage, all other values are diminished”.
Wolff emphasized the importance of character, of staying connected to members with the goal of building unity, of committing to mastering skills, and of having the courage to do what is right. “It’s important that we all do what is right for the right reasons - no matter how hard or who we’re up against”, Wolff shared. “Without courage, all other values are diminished”.
Member-mobi l ized
Negotiations. This was the
name and theme of the 2024 Full-time
Officers Conference, held at Hale
Hapaiko from March 12-14th. The
theme of the three-day training points
to an approach to negotiations that
the Union is returning to once again.
Member-mobilized negotiations simply refers to a negotiation process that ensures that the members are involved, informed, and ready and willing to take action to get the contracts they deserve. This focus was directed by the Titled Officers as part of their vision to return the union to a member-mobilized force at the bargaining table.
Every Business Agent, all three Titled Officers, and all Division Directors, with the exception of Maui,
Member-mobilized negotiations simply refers to a negotiation process that ensures that the members are involved, informed, and ready and willing to take action to get the contracts they deserve. This focus was directed by the Titled Officers as part of their vision to return the union to a member-mobilized force at the bargaining table.
Every Business Agent, all three Titled Officers, and all Division Directors, with the exception of Maui,
training, stating, “Having others share
their experiences helped me. The
workshops were inspirational and
motivating. I want to be the Business
Agent I wish I had.”
Beyond the contract
ILWU members care about many issues beyond their contracts and are feeling the pressure that comes from both the housing crisis and overtourism. So each day of training was followed by evening dinner panels on broader community issues that the ILWU is paying close attention to and even getting involved in.
On Tuesday evening, Vice Chair of the Hawai’i Tourism Authority, Mahina Paishon and former Mayoral and Lieutenant Governor candidate, Keith Amemiya laid out alternative visions for tourism.
Beyond the contract
ILWU members care about many issues beyond their contracts and are feeling the pressure that comes from both the housing crisis and overtourism. So each day of training was followed by evening dinner panels on broader community issues that the ILWU is paying close attention to and even getting involved in.
On Tuesday evening, Vice Chair of the Hawai’i Tourism Authority, Mahina Paishon and former Mayoral and Lieutenant Governor candidate, Keith Amemiya laid out alternative visions for tourism.
and former Organizer Tracy Takano
then shared their own experiences and
involvement in the ILUW’s housing
program, which began about five
decades ago and lasted until recently.
Grandinetti closed the panel by laying out some of the issues with short-term rentals and what other states are doing to creatively tackle the housing problem while not relying solely on new housing developments as the solution. Rent control and housing cooperatives were among the solutions Grandinetti offered.
Leadership emphasized On the final day, President Chris West and Director of Political Action, Brandon Wolff spoke to the Full-time Officers on leadership. “While we are all elected leaders, stated President Chris West, “we have to focus first on simply developing good relationships with the members.”
Grandinetti closed the panel by laying out some of the issues with short-term rentals and what other states are doing to creatively tackle the housing problem while not relying solely on new housing developments as the solution. Rent control and housing cooperatives were among the solutions Grandinetti offered.
Leadership emphasized On the final day, President Chris West and Director of Political Action, Brandon Wolff spoke to the Full-time Officers on leadership. “While we are all elected leaders, stated President Chris West, “we have to focus first on simply developing good relationships with the members.”
Next steps
The goal of the FTO conference was to strengthen the skills and strategies of the Full-time Officers in negotiating strong contracts for ILWU members. Preparations for negotiations begin at least nine months in advance of the contract expiration. While BAs are fresh out of training, all members can support this process by learning when your contract expires, asking your Unit Chairs and Business Agents about the negotiation process, knowing your contract, and getting involved.
Member involvement is at the very core of the methods FTO’s are taught. Smart negotiations and high member-participation is the key to strong contracts.
The goal of the FTO conference was to strengthen the skills and strategies of the Full-time Officers in negotiating strong contracts for ILWU members. Preparations for negotiations begin at least nine months in advance of the contract expiration. While BAs are fresh out of training, all members can support this process by learning when your contract expires, asking your Unit Chairs and Business Agents about the negotiation process, knowing your contract, and getting involved.
Member involvement is at the very core of the methods FTO’s are taught. Smart negotiations and high member-participation is the key to strong contracts.
were in attendance. Organizers and
some staff were also in attendance.
Full-time officers spent half the time
learning bargaining strategies that
the negotiation committees can use
to proactively steer the negotiation
process.
Training on these bargaining methods were then coupled with strategies to inform and engage Unit members to take actions that show rather than just tell the employer that they are committed to a strong contract.
New Business Agent, Stephanie Smythe from the Maui division shared her take-aways from the
Training on these bargaining methods were then coupled with strategies to inform and engage Unit members to take actions that show rather than just tell the employer that they are committed to a strong contract.
New Business Agent, Stephanie Smythe from the Maui division shared her take-aways from the
Amemiya argued for the state to
focus marketing on higher-spending
tourists to maintain state tourism
revenue while reducing the number
of tourists on our roads and in our
neighborhoods. Reducing lower
spending tourists by phasing out and
enforcing bans on Transient Vacation
Rentals such as Air BnBs was one
strategy Amemiya offered.
Paishon shared her desire to utilize tourism revenue to invest in new workforce development projects that reduce an over-reliance on tourism and diversify the economy. She pointed to the community in North Kaua’i who are setting terms of entry into their
Paishon shared her desire to utilize tourism revenue to invest in new workforce development projects that reduce an over-reliance on tourism and diversify the economy. She pointed to the community in North Kaua’i who are setting terms of entry into their
West then
emphasized
pushing through
difficult times -
whether at the
