National and even regional banks have been cutting back on mortgage, student, and auto loans as they scramble to keep enough cash to cover potential losses caused by the subprime credit crisis.
But credit unions are in good shape, and many of them have plenty of money to loan. Most credit unions follow very conservative, old-fashioned banking practices. They made low risk auto loans and avoided the risky mortgage and commercial construction loans which are causing trouble for so many banks.
January 21 - Hawaii State Legislature convenes
Hawaii’s State Legislature convenes on January 21, 2009. The ILWU plans to send delegations of members and retirees to meet with legislators on opening day.
The ILWU Political Action Committee will continue efforts to protect workers when a company is sold and to pass a worker’s free choice act for workers wanting to organize a union.
The Legislative Session will probably run until late April.
ILWU longshore maintenance units reached a contract settlement which was approved by members on November 15, 2008. Members of the union committee include: Spokesperson Wesley Furtado, Leith Suganuma, Wes Miyashiro, Dennis Inouye, Michael Tompkison, Chris Ancheta, and Darrol Lacar.
Hawaii longshore members raise their hands as they vote to approve a historic agreement which puts them ahead of the ILWU West Coast longshore for the first time since the industry was unionized. Hawaii fought for many years to achieve parity with the West Coast and has always played catch up to match the Mainland wages and benefits.
Make your vote count for working families! Support your union’s recommendations in the General Elections this November 4, 2008. ILWU members and families are urged to vote for those candidates listed below. Cut out these lists and keep them in your wallet as a reminder when you vote.
Employees at the Princeville Resort on Kauai’s North Shore recently voted overwhelmingly in favor of their first union contract. Just a few months earlier, in December 2007, Princeville Resort employees voted in a federally-supervised election to unionize with the ILWU Local 142
PRINCEVILLE, Kauai—The union contract was completed just in time to provide workers with job security, seniority rights, and medical benefits while the hotel closes for a seven month face lift.
As a union member, you have the right to ask for a union representative in any disciplinary meeting with management.
Weingarten Rights refers to the U.S. Supreme Court decision that an employee has a right to a union representative during an investigatory interview which might lead to disciplinary action. The employee must ASK for representation!
Rule 1. The employee must make a clear request for a union steward before or during the interview and cannot be punished for making this request.
A long awaited decision by the National Labor Relations Board has brought Pacific Beach Hotel workers one step closer to justice.
The labor board’s Region 20 director issued a complaint against HTH Corporation on August 29, 2008, charging the company with numerous and serious violations of US labor law. HTH owns the Pacific Beach Hotel in Waikiki and the Pagoda Hotel on Rycroft Street, mauka of the Ala Moana Center.
WAIKOLOA, Hawaii—The Big Island played host to the 55th Annual ILWU Statewide Golf Tournament on August 30 and 31, 2008. Tournament committee members Wally Ishibashi Jr., Corinna Salmo, and Cassius Ching worked hard to make the tournament—which was held at the Waikoloa Beach Course—a success for all participating ILWU members and guests. If you like golf and would be interested in playing in next year’s tournament, call your Division or Business Agent. The tournament is always held on Labor Day weekend.
Check your doctor and hospital bills, especially large bills. If there’s anything you don’t understand, call your health care provider or health plan.
If you ate at a restaurant and ordered the hamburger dinner, you would question your bill if you were charged for a lobster and a bottle of wine. You should do the same review of your medical bills.
The Medical Billing Advocates of America found 80 percent of hospital bills contained some errors. The errors they found included:
• Duplicate billing - charging twice for the same service, drugs, or supplies.