Every two years, members of the ILWU State Pensioners Association gather for a conference to learn about issues and programs that benefit seniors, hear about the state of the union, reunite with old friends and make new ones.

Brothers and Sisters, I am honored to be here, addressing your 21st Biennial ILWU State Pensioners Conference. You and other ILWU retirees like yourselves really deserve most of the credit for building this great union and starting a peaceful revolution that transformed Hawaii into a modern, democratic society. 

nursing home care so many end up on Medicaid, which is also paid for with tax dollars. The Legislature this session failed to enact Care Plus, but did agree to establish an interim board of trustees to develop a recommendation for the next Legislature to implement a long-term care financing program. 

Saburo Fujisaki May 1920 - May 2002

HONOLULU—ILWU members and retirees across the state are mourning the loss of a man who truly dedicated his life to building the union and serving its membership.

47th Annual ILWU Men’s Fast-Pitch Softball champs “Sons of Kauai.”

Hawaii Division’s “Mauna Lani” team took home second place.

Republicans opposed programs benefiting workers

The 2002 Legislature passed a number of good bills that bring real and substantial benefit to working families. However, a look at the voting records on five issues supported by the ILWU reveals a big difference in how Republicans and Democrats in the State Legislature look at these worker friendly programs.

The five issues were: Health Insurance Regulation; Wage and Hour Protection; Worker Retention; the Employment Training Fund; and Prepaid Health Law.

HONOLULU—February and March were busy months for the Local 142’s longshore division, as union members began mobilizing for upcoming contract talks with their employers. Collective bargaining agreements covering ILWU longshore members expire on July 1, 2002, and negotiations are set to begin between the West Coast ILWU and the employer group, the Pacific Maritime Association, in May.

A national budget represents the values and priorities we place on problems and issues confronting the country, directing limited resources to meet them. President Bush just released his proposed budget for the upcoming year. It includes huge increases for military spending, a massive infusion of money for “homeland defense” and endless tax cuts for the wealthy. The budget slashes funding for workers programs and other programs important to organized labor.

The horror of Sept. 11 left more in its wake than 16 smoking acres in Manhattan. A rush to security at all costs became the rule of the day and civil liberties were treated as collateral damage. The Port and Maritime Security Act of 2001 currently being considered in Congress—with its provisions to screen and ban waterfront workers from the docks as security risks—is one of those overreactions.

Ameron International is a cement product manufacturer. Rock and sand are quarried and mixed into different types of cement, then trucked to construction sites by Ameron drivers.