These are the toughest contract negotiations the ILWU’s Longshore Division has faced in a long time. Not since 1948, when our strike broke the old Waterfront Employers Association and the Pacific Maritime Association was set up in its place to resolve the dispute, have we seen an employer so emboldened, so ready and eager to bust the union, so intently focused on making this contract the one that will eliminate the ILWU—if not immediately, then over the long term.

Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, Merck, Rite-Aid, Xerox, Global Crossing and many other “great” corporations have recently been caught in scandal, fraud and crime. Company executives once hailed by the mass media as the geniuses behind the “go-go” economy have devastated employees and investors, drained pension and retirement funds and in many cases fleeced the taxpayers.

More than 200 leaders of dockworker unions worldwide pledged support for the ILWU in its bargaining with the shipping and stevedoring companies of the Pacific Maritime Association and signed a letter to President Bush demanding he stop interfering in the negotiations.

ILWU to PMA—port security first

Bargaining Statement August 27, 2002 James Spinosa, ILWU International President

James Spinosa, ILWU International President

Why do people get active in the union? Because they want to help others; because they aren’t afraid to challenge management and speak up for workers’ rights; but mostly because they want to make a difference for working people.

a voice in running their 401(k) plans. Congress failed to counterbalance Enron-style employer efforts to seduce workers into buying high levels of company stock and took no action to reverse the tide of corporations offering employees unregulated stock option plans rather than real retirement security that can be achieved through a defied pensionbenefit plan.

Government and laws affect our lives every day. And working families can have a say in government, but we need to elect the right representatives into office. The power is in your hands—vote on Sept. 21!

HONOLULU—Thanks to union political action, working families made big gains in this year’s legislative session. Four significant pieces of new legislation sought by the ILWU were passed by state lawmakers. The Hawaii RX (SB 2520) and RX Expansion Program (HB 2834) will make prescription drugs more affordable for retirees and union members. Health Insurance Regulation (HB 1761) should help control the rapidly increasing cost of medical insurance, which affects wages and benefits on the job.

ACT 76 (HB 2834, SD 2, CD 1) Reduce cost of Prescription Drugs.

This legislation will provide relief for consumers from the high cost of prescription drugs by establishing, within the Department of Human Services, a pharmaceutical discount program for all state residents under which the State obtains manufacturers’ rebates on drugs that are offered at discounted prices to program participants. The program would take effect July 1, 2004.

Provides Funds for Worker Training.

The Employment and Training Fund was set to expire at the end of 2002, but this bill makes the program permanent by assessing employers 0.01% of payroll which goes into the fund. It also requires employers who use these training programs to contribute 50% of the cost of the assistance in cash or in-kind contribution.