HONOLULU—Representatives from five Sack ’N Save stores met on December 16 and 17, 2003, to put together a state-wide package of proposals which will define the union’s bargaining position in contract talks with management next year. The current contract covering over 230 members expires in March 2004. Sack ’N Save is part of the Foodland Super Market Ltd. chain of grocery stores. The ILWU also represents workers at Foodland Stores.

• Act 87 was successfully repealed. For the Union, there was concern that Act 87 would interfere with the handling of certain grievances and even workers’ compensation cases. 

• The minimum wage to $5.75 effective January 1, 2002 and $6.25 effective January 1, 2004, with no increase in the tip credit, passed. 

• The notice period for the Hawaii Dislocated Workers Act was increased from 45 days to 60 days. 

The ILWU Local 142 faced a tremendous job in the 2002 elections. The Governor and Lt. Governor seats were being vacated, there were mayoral races on Kauai and Maui, all of the Senate seats were up for election, and the death of our good friend, Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink, resulted in two special elections.

Kaanapali, MAUI—The 50th annual ILWU Golf Tournament was played on Saturday and Sunday, August 30 and 31, 2004 at the Kaanapali Golf Courses, which are beautifully maintained by ILWU workers at Unit 2507. A total of 54 golfers spent two days enjoying the fine weather, good golf, and friendships of other ILWU members statewide and from the mainland U.S.

This year’s banquet was held at the Kanahele Room at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, where special entertainment included a dinner show by award-winning magician Jody Baran.

HONOLULU—“Bullet Proof,” Maui’s all-star softball team, beat both Oahu longshore’s “Po‘ola” (McCabe, Hamilton & Renny) and the Big Island’s Mauna Lani to take the 18th Annual ILWU Slow Pitch Championship title.

The round-robin tournament was held at hot and shadeless Keehi Lagoon Park on Saturday, September 27. In the first game, which pit Maui against Oahu, Maui took the lead early and despite a rally by McCabe in the 6th and 7th innings, held on to win 17-11.

Senator Daniel Akaka visited with the union’s statewide Political Action Committee on December 16, 2003. Akaka thanked the ILWU for its steadfast defense of democratic and constitutional rights which are coming under attack by the right-wing Bush Administration. The Committee unanimously gave early endorsements to U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye and U.S.

WAILEA, Maui—“No contract, no peace,” is the loud and clear message union members are sending to their bosses as they begin contract talks with Grand Wailea Resort & Spa management. Contract talks have only just begun but already members have held one rally and are planning more demonstrations during the busy holiday season. The unit’s negotiating committee purposely allowed the old contract to expire without an extension. With no contract in effect, workers are free to picket, wave signs, or strike the hotel.

MEDICARE/Prescription drugs— The Senate passed the prescription drug conference report. The legislation will subsidize employment based plans up to 28 percent of the costs of enrollees between $250 and $5,000 in spending. Employment based plans get no help for catastrophic costs. Please see the fact sheet (below right) that outlines just how bad the conference report is. Senator Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) voted wrong on the issue. In the House, Rep. David Wu (D-OR) voted wrong. All other West Coast Democrats were “right” on the issue.

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the resort workers in what is only the second round of negotiations. The bad treatment by management goes back to the beginning—December 1998—when the hotel’s new owners, the KSL Recreation Group, bought the hotel for half of its construction cost after the banks foreclosed on Japanese developer Takeshi Sekiguchi.