The ILWU held its Leadership, Education, and Development (LEAD) Institute from April 13-18 in Tacoma, Washington. LEAD is a key component of the ILWU’s education program and is held every three years. It brings together a diverse group of rank-and-file members and elected ILWU leaders to teach them practical skills and provide tools that attendees can bring back to their local unions to develop new leaders and increase membership involvement.
On Wednesday, May 21, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen joined the ILWU Maui Division Executive Board meeting to speak directly with union leadership about a crisis that hits close to home for many working families: the lack of housing. In particular, the Mayor came to provide Maui members with an update on Bill 9, part of the Mayor’s plan to phase out short-term rentals (STRs). This is an issue that the ILWU Local 142 has strongly supported since 2023.
130 Unit Officers recently completed a round of Unit Officer training put on by Local 142. This round of trainings will finish this summer with more rounds possible later this year. This issue of The Voice focuses on the Unit structure covering the training, sharing with readers the fundamental roles within the Unit, and encouraging members to get more involved.
The ILWU Local 142 welcomes Palani J. Simon as the Regional Director of the Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific. Simon stepped into the role one year ago after former Regional Director, Michael Anderson Jr., finished his term.
There’s an old saying, “you are what you celebrate,” that nicely describes the Hawai’i Division’s annual recognition awards. Held this past February in Hilo, the annual event pays tribute to Hawaiʻi Island’s most active units and pensioners.
Harry Kamoku Hall was packed inside and out as this event is much anticipated and brings members together from across the massive island for fellowship and to honor the thing that makes the union strong - member activity.
On March 11, 2025, the Hawaiʻi State Senate confirmed ILWU Local 142 President Christian West to the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) Board, marking a significant step toward ensuring that Hawaiʻi’s tourism industry serves not just corporate interests but the workers and communities that sustain it.
Recent news stories and editorials have reignited the debate over the Jones Act, the century-old maritime law requiring that goods transported between U.S. ports be carried on American-built, American-owned, and American-crewed ships.
Opponents, including Hawai‘i Congressman Ed Case and the corporate-backed Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, have claimed that the Jones Act drives up prices and limits economic opportunity for island residents. But these arguments fail to hold water. Here’s what you need to know:
Workers at two major Big Island hotels—Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa and Hilton Waikoloa Village— are taking action to demand fair contracts. Faced with lowball wage
proposals, short staffing, and employer stalling, ILWU Local 142 members have mobilized in force, using picket lines to turn up the heat on their employers.
Pickets See Young Workers
On January 30, workers at Outrigger Kona held the first picket at a Hawaiʻi Division hotel in
“We get to wake up every morning and go to work for the people. That’s a privilege, and a serious responsibility.” This is how President Chris West opened the 2025 Full-time Officers Training - the first in the new triennium focused on education to strengthen the union from bottom to top.
The rhetoric around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is everywhere. Politicians and pundits claim that DEI is “divisive,” “woke,” or even “anti-American.” They argue it gives “special treatment” to certain groups or is part of some Marxist agenda.
The ILWU held its Leadership, Education, and Development (LEAD) Institute from April 13-18 in Tacoma, Washington. LEAD is a key component of the ILWU’s education program and is held every three years. It brings together a diverse group of rank-and-file members and elected ILWU leaders to teach them practical skills and provide tools that attendees can bring back to their local unions to develop new leaders and increase membership involvement.
On Wednesday, May 21, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen joined the ILWU Maui Division Executive Board meeting to speak directly with union leadership about a crisis that hits close to home for many working families: the lack of housing. In particular, the Mayor came to provide Maui members with an update on Bill 9, part of the Mayor’s plan to phase out short-term rentals (STRs). This is an issue that the ILWU Local 142 has strongly supported since 2023.
130 Unit Officers recently completed a round of Unit Officer training put on by Local 142. This round of trainings will finish this summer with more rounds possible later this year. This issue of The Voice focuses on the Unit structure covering the training, sharing with readers the fundamental roles within the Unit, and encouraging members to get more involved.
On March 11, 2025, the Hawaiʻi State Senate confirmed ILWU Local 142 President Christian West to the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) Board, marking a significant step toward ensuring that Hawaiʻi’s tourism industry serves not just corporate interests but the workers and communities that sustain it. 
Recent news stories and editorials have reignited the debate over the Jones Act, the century-old maritime law requiring that goods transported between U.S. ports be carried on American-built, American-owned, and American-crewed ships. 
“We get to wake up every morning and go to work for the people. That’s a privilege, and a serious responsibility.” This is how President Chris West opened the 2025 Full-time Officers Training - the first in the new triennium focused on education to strengthen the union from bottom to top. 
The rhetoric around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is everywhere. Politicians and pundits claim that DEI is “divisive,” “woke,” or even “anti-American.” They argue it gives “special treatment” to certain groups or is part of some Marxist agenda.