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.
The club was officially started in November by three retired longshoremen, who wanted to reconnect with retired longshore brothers and sisters and get involved with Hawaii Longshore Division.
HILO — On February 9, 2019, Hawaii Division held its 42nd Annual Recognition Awards at the ILWU Hilo Hall. Hawaii Division can always expect a large turnout for this event and this year was no exception. This year the event was back at the open air Hilo Hall instead of at Nani Mau Gardens its location for the past six years. “We got spoiled in the air conditioning,” joked Division Director Elmer Gorospe, “but here we are stronger than ever.”