Fresh off the Tri-Isle Trucking victory on Maui, members at Island Distributing delivered another watershed win — one that will ripple through their lives for years to come.

Negotiations wrapped in November with 100% of members voting to ratify their new contract. The agreement brings major wage increases, stronger benefits, and improvements to retirement. But the biggest breakthrough was something members have fought for over many years: sick leave payout.

Under the new agreement, all unused sick leave will now be paid out annually. Even more remarkably, every hour of already accumulated sick leave will be paid out as a one-time lump sum on January 1, 2026. 

Starting in 2027, members will get yearly payouts for whatever sick leave remains unused at the end of each year, with the average payout expected to be around $5,000. It’s a win-win that rewards good attendance instead of penalizing workers, proving that incentive-based policies are both fair and smart business.

Like every meaningful gain in ILWU history, this win didn’t happen because the company felt generous. It was earned through a hard-fought mobilizing campaign that mirrored the Tri-Isle strategy: coordinated actions, big magnetic union signs slapped on the sides of trucks, visible unity, and even a picket line when needed. Members stood firm — and they won big.

Congratulations to our Island Distributing members on Maui for securing a powerful, well-deserved victory. Your solidarity, strategy, and persistence continue to raise the bar for working people across the islands.