After years of organizing, bargaining, and persistence, ILWU Local 142 has secured a major victory for working families. Effective February 1, 2026, approximately 3,800 members across 12 units covered by the ILWU Local 142 Health and Welfare Trust Fund will have access to retirement medical coverage—nearly one-quarter of the Local’s total membership. 
For thousands of working people in Hawaiʻi, this win means something profound and long overdue: the ability to retire without the fear of losing healthcare.
It is the most significant advancement in retirement security in modern Local 142 history. 

A Fight that has Spanned Decades
ILWU Local 142 has sought retirement medical coverage for its members for decades. The need was clear, but agreement had remained out of reach. 

That changed under the leadership of ILWU Local 142 President Chris West, who also serves as a trustee and Chair of the union-representing trustees of the ILWU Local 142 Health and Welfare Trust Fund.

Over more than a year of negotiations, trustees wrestled with a shared fiduciary responsibility: protecting the long-term health and sustainability of the Trust while addressing the real needs of aging members. Resistance was strong, and discussions were often difficult. But the union did not back down.

Working with Benefit Plan Solutions Hawaiʻi, Local 142 brought forward detailed analysis showing that extending medical coverage into retirement could be done responsibly, without compromising benefits for active members or the strength of the Trust.

Eventually, all eight trustees, four representing the union and four representing the tourism industry, agreed. Retirement medical coverage was not only the right thing to do. It was sustainable.

As President West put it: "This is about dignity. Our members give their entire working lives to this industry and this union. Making sure they can retire without fear of losing their healthcare is one of the most important responsibilities we have. This has been a goal of ILWU Local 142 for decades, and we were determined to see it through."

What this Changes for Members 
While retirement represents one of the most aspirational and joyous times in a person's life, for many retirees in Hawaii, turning 65 does not bring peace of mind. Even with Medicare, most seniors must purchase additional insurance to cover gaps in care, prescriptions, and out-of-pocket costs. These plans, commonly known as C and D plans, often cost hundreds of dollars per month. Over the course of retirement, those expenses can reach tens of thousands of dollars. 
Without strong coverage, retirees face difficult choices. Some delay medical care. Others dip into pensions and retirement savings just to stay insured. Many postpone retirement entirely because they cannot afford to lose employer-based healthcare.

This new retirement medical benefit changes that reality.

For qualifying ILWU Local 142 members, personal medical expenses in retirement will be dramatically reduced. Members can retire knowing their healthcare is secure, stable, and covered for life. That security protects pensions, preserves retirement savings, and removes one the greatest sources of stress facing aging workers.

Who is Eligible: 4 Points 
Members must meet all four requirements to enroll in the retiree medical benefit: 

1. Age 
You must be 65 years old at the time you retire. 

2. Total months of coverage 
You must have been covered as an actively working member by the ILWU Local 142 medical plan for a total of 60 months during your career.

3. Coverage immediately prior to retirement 
You must have been covered as an actively working member by the ILWU Local 142 medical plan for 12 consecutive months immediately before your retirement date. 

4. Medicare enrollment 
You must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B on the effective date of your retiree coverage. Members considering retirement are encouraged to begin conversations early to ensure eligibility and a smooth transition. 

Taking the News To Members
Once approved, the union and participating employers committed to announcing the benefit directly to the membership. Joint union-hotel rollout meetings took place at 12 units across Hawai'i Island, Maui, O'ahu, Kaua'i, and Lana'i. In addition to hotel union members, these meetings were attended by ILWU Local 142 Titled Officers, Union Trustees, Hotel Trustees, Division Directors, and Business Agents, signifying the historic nature of the announcement. 

The response from members has been one of relief and at times emotional. At the Westin Maui, Meleana Salcedo, who has worked at the resort for 50 years, broke down in tears when she heard the news. For the first time, she said, she could finally see a clear path to retirement. t r Moments like these are why the union fought for this benefit.

We All Retire Eventually 
Taking care of retirees is a core union principle. It is the work that comes after wage increases and contract language. It is about lowering the cost of living, increasing long-term security, and honoring the full span of a working life. This achievement reflects the current administration's commitment to keeping union members in Hawaii, able to retire with dignity in the communities they helped build. For nearly 4,000 ILWU Local 142 members, retirement now comes with certainty instead of fear. That is a historic victory.