Workers at the Point at Poʻipū have secured a strong new union contract after months of negotiations and organizing, marking a major victory for members of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142 on Kauaʻi.

The new four-year agreement delivers meaningful gains in wages, working conditions, and job protections. Most notably, workers have successfully raised standards at the property, moving from among the lowest-paid in their classifications on island to among the highest. It is a clear example of what is possible when workers organize and fight collectively.

Collective Action, Collective Victory
This victory was built through member engagement. Workers mobilized throughout negotiations, circulating petitions, wearing buttons, and demonstrating unity on the job.

That visible solidarity sent a clear message: workers were paying attention, standing together, and ready to back their bargaining team. It was this unity that helped push negotiations forward and secure a strong agreement.

Major  Win: Successors and Assigns
One of the most important gains in this contract is the strengthened successors and assigns language.

The Point at Poʻipū has changed ownership multiple times over the years. Too often, workers in Hawaiʻi’s hospitality industry face uncertainty when properties are sold—risking their jobs, their seniority, and the contracts they fought hard to win.

This agreement ensures that if the property is sold, any new owner must honor the union contract and retain the existing workforce with their seniority intact.

Just as importantly, the negotiating committee held the line on this provision. They understood that protecting their future was just as critical as improving their present. In doing so, they demonstrated a key principle of strong unionism: workers cannot just bargain for immediate gains—they must fight to secure long-term stability for themselves and those who come after them.

The Work Ahead
Winning a strong contract is a major step, but it is only the beginning. The strength of any agreement depends on enforcement, and enforcement depends on organization. A strong steward structure in the unit is essential to ensuring that contract rights are upheld on the job. Just as important is maintaining a full unit executive board, with active officers who can lead, respond to issues, and keep members engaged.

Ultimately, the strength of the Unit comes down to its members. A Union is only as strong as the willingness of its members to take ownership of it—by staying informed, supporting one another, and stepping up to defend their contract.

Ground Zero in Fight for Kauaʻi
This victory comes at a time when Kauaʻi, like the rest of Hawaiʻi, is facing a rising cost of living that continues to put pressure on working families.

For many, the workplace is ground zero in that fight. Union contracts are one of the most effective tools workers have to improve wages, secure fair conditions, and build stability in an increasingly expensive state.

The success at the Point at Poʻipū sends a clear message: change does not come from the outside—it comes from workers getting organized and taking action together.

For ILWU members on Kauaʻi, this contract is more than a win at one property. It is a reminder that when workers step up, stay united, and fight not just for today but for the future, they can raise standards for themselves and for others across the island.