HONOLULU—A downpour soaked Oahu on February 27, 2004. High winds, heavy rain, thunder and lightning gridlocked Oahu streets. Many areas were flooded, trees were downed, and power was knocked out in Salt Lake and Pearl City. Mud and debris slides further worsened travel into Honolulu.

Dave Mori 
Oahu Division Director

labor agreement. That contract ran three years from July 2000 to October 31, 2003.

The contract fell short in a number of areas, but it was far better than what KSL first proposed. Grand Wailea members decided to live with the second rate conditions of that first contract, but in future negotiations they fully intended to recover lost gains and bring Grand Wailea wages and benefits up to previous first-class levels.

This in turn would help protect the jobs and futures of hundreds of ILWU sugar workers.

by surprise. Many had been born and raised in the camp, which has become a tight-knit community where everyone knows each other. The residents wanted to save Poamoho—they didn’t want their community destroyed.

More time needed 
The ILWU moved quickly to help the residents save their community. The union has a lot of experience in converting plantation camps into low-cost housing for members and retirees. However, it would be almost impossible to develop such a housing program before the June 30 deadline.

HONOLULU—Contract talks between the ILWU and Dole Pineapple will start in early March, then switch to Del Monte around March 22-24. Talks between the Union and Maui Land and Pineapple will be delayed to around August, as members approved a six-month contract extension sought by the company’s management.

HONOLULU—Contract talks between the ILWU and Dole Pineapple will start in early March, then switch to Del Monte around March 22-24. Talks between the Union and Maui Land and Pineapple will be delayed to around August, as members approved a six-month contract extension sought by the company’s management.

In less than ten months—D-day, Nov. 2, 2004—the future of our country and that of the whole world will be decided. If George W. Bush gets another four years in the White House, if both houses of Congress remain controlled by the Republicans, the labor movement will be facing its biggest crisis since the McCarthy witch hunts of the 1950s.

WASHINGTON, D.C—President George W. Bush told Congress on Feb. 20, 2004, that he intends to sign the so-called Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) put together by his Administration. The trade deal is with the countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

HILO—“There is no nobler job than to build this union and help each other.” This message from keynote speaker Ah Quon McElrath sums up the purpose of Hawaii Division’s Annual Unit Recognition Banquet—which honors a group of outstanding ILWU Units that distinguished themselves in their service and dedication to members.