Democraemocracy in action is in no
finer form than with the Local Executive Board (LEB). This is the second-highest governing body of the whole union (with the highest being the Local Convention).
All of ILWU Local 142's members work in one of these four industries: longshore, pineapple, tourism and general trades. Representation for each industrial grouping cycles fairly every three years (triennium) between each island division.
ELMER "KEOLA" GOROSPE, JR.
Keola is a Control Operator at Unit 1408 Hu Honua Bioenergy,
DANE JOSUE
Dane is an Energy/Safety Engineer
at Unit 2520 Grand Wailea Resort
LINDA POKIPALA
Linda is a Business Services Representative at Unit 1426 Queen's North Hawai'i Community Hospital
LOURDES RIVERA
Lourdes works in Culinary at Unit 2505 Westin Maui
on family and unity, "It's not about clerks vs. longshore, or about what the mainland wants versus Hawai'i. It is about empowering the rank-and- file to stick together when it comes to providing for the next generation."
"I know you guys are about 'oha- na," said ILWU Secretary-Treasurer Ed Ferris, "and will work hard to make sure no one gets left behind."
Effective caucus -->
Maui ILWU members support Pacific Beach Hotel workers at a rally held on Dec. 20 in front of the hotel. (L-r) Business Agent Abel Kahoohanohano, Francis Kamakaokalani, Douglas Cabading.
Tipping Workers
Workers in tipping category jobs such as waithelp and bell workers will get an increase of nearly 9.9 percent by the end of the five year agreement. They will receive a 2 percent wage increase in the first, second, and third year and 1.75 percent in the fourth and fifth year of the contract. Beginning on January 2009, tipping category workers will receive two times their base pay when they take vacations. They currently receive one and one-half times their pay.
Over 40 representatives from community groups, educators, lawmakers, churches and unions joined together on December 5, 2007 to send a message loud and clear to Pacific Beach Hotel owner HTH Corporation—treat the workers fairly or you won’t get our money.
The group, called Justice at the Beach, held a press conference to announce their support for Pacific Beach Hotel workers and to make a public call for a boycott of HTH Corporation, including Pacific Beach Hotel and Pagoda Hotel and Restaurant.
The attack on them is an attack on all workers
The union-busting employer at Pacific Beach Hotel, HTH Corporation, is doing everything it can to get rid of the ILWU as collective bargainging representative for the workers at Pacific Beach. How does this affect the rest of us? As part of the ILWU, our wages, benefits, working conditions, and voice on the job are protected by law. HTH is acting as if it is above the law.
The ILWU is sponsoring a “Free Store” for Pacific Beach Hotel workers who have lost their jobs, been downgraded in status, lost hours of work, or been paid less for doing the same job since HTH Corporation has resumed management of the hotel.