Your union contract is a written agreement with your employer. It defines your wages, benefits, conditions of employment, and rights on the job. It is enforceable through a grievance procedure and ultimately in a court of law

Most union contracts are renegotiated every three years, although some contracts run for only one year and others run for as long as six years. How long the contract runs is up to you and your negotiating committee. The ILWU is a democratic union and members are involved in every step of the negotiating process.

Quiet, but effective. Most who knew Michael Murata would note his unassuming nature and strong work ethic.

The ILWU is deeply grateful to Michael and his ‘ohana for their contributions and sacrifices over 20 years of service to the union. His work to create the foundation of the Contract Administration Department serves as his legacy. Local 142 continues to benefit from his groundwork. We will miss his wisdom, dedication and gentle nature. Rest in Aloha.

HONOLULU — The ILWU is a union that values its members. The union is only as strong as its members, and thankfully Local 142 has members who have longevity within the organization.

Unit 4409 Island Movers has two members who have over 80 years combined of union membership between them. Island Movers is one of the only moving companies in Hawaii that is unionized.

On March 13, production workers at San Francisco’s Anchor Steam brewery made history by voting to join the ILWU – becoming one of the first craft breweries to go union. The margin was 31-16 but the numbers increased two days later when service workers at the Anchor Public Taps voted 6-2 for the union. The victory capped-off a year of quiet organizing that went public on February 7, when 39 workers signed a letter telling the company they wanted a union.

KONA — The 38th Annual State Basketball Tournament was held on December 8, 2018 at Kekuaokalani Gym on the Big Island.

Hawaii Division, as state champions for the past two years, defended their title on their home turf and served as the host for the event.

Representative teams from all Divisions - Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu - showed up with excitement and good-natured, competitive spirits.

Run by the Rank-and-File 
Local 142 is one of 60 individual locals that make up the ILWU. These local unions are located in California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Canada, and Panama. Most of these locals were part of the ILWU since the 1930s and share the same principles of a democratic union run by the membership.

You are a member of a Unit within the ILWU. Units elect their own officers and hold regular membership meetings to run their affairs and carry out union programs. Units are the basic building block of the ILWU’s democratic structure.

Pictured in the left-most photo is Hiva Takafua. Pictured at middle is Naome Ching and on the far right are pensioners Irinea Tanicala and Lydia Coloma. As over 30 people waved to passing cars at the company’s Maui Lani Parkway location, many cars honked in solidarity for our workers.

Los Angeles teachers won a carefully-organized six-day strike in January that will deliver smaller class sizes, more nurses and counselors, and greater accountability of private charter schools in the nation’s second largest school system.

HONOLULU — one vote cannot do much to influence the legislature, but the ILWU knows that there is strength in numbers and sticking together. Every legislator received a copy of the ILWU’s legislative priorities for 2019 before large delegations from all divisions descended on the State Capitol for Opening Day (the first day the Legislature convenes) on January 16, 2019.

HONOLULU — The ILWU Pensioner Conference happens every two years with a different host island. Over 70 pensioners from all divisions attended the conference from June 12-14, 2018 on Oahu at the Ala Moana Hotel. The pensioners have their own conference in addition to the larger Local Convention that also happens every three years because they paved the way for workers today to enjoy the benefits and job security so many take for granted.