A third and very important benefit of union membership goes far beyond your job. You are now a member of a workers’ organization--dedicated to defend your interests as a worker and to promote the general welfare of you and your family.

This is spelled out in the ILWU Declaration of Principles:

We, the men and women working under the jurisdiction of ILWU Local 142 Hawaii, in order to build and maintain a strong local organization and provide for the defense of our common interests, promote the general welfare of our members, their families and other wage earners in the community, and uphold the rights and dignity of our labor and its organized expression, have determined that we shall be guided by the following principles . . .

One of the most important way the union defends our interests is through Union Political Action. The legal system is extremely important to working people. Laws can be passed to give additional rights and protection to workers or, just as easily, take away workers’ rights and protections. The story on page 3, “What Is At Will Employment?” clearly shows how laws affect your job security.

In our country, the U.S. Congress and our State Legislature have the power to make new laws and change old laws. Every year in Hawaii, our State Legislature considers thousands of bills that propose changes in our laws-- some of these proposals benefit workers and some take away rights and benefits. For this reason, the ILWU and other unions must be actively involved in the legislative process, monitoring all of the bills, stopping legislation that would hurt working families, and urging legislators to pass legislation that benefit workers.

The success or failure of union political action depends on numbers—it takes a majority of legislators to pass a piece of legislation. This is why the ILWU and other unions endorse certain candidates over others during the elections. In the last election in 2002, the ILWU Political Action Committee interviewed dozens of candidates and questioned them on issues important to workers.

Union members were then urged to vote for only those candidates who would support working families.

ILWU members work together to help each other at work and in the community. Members, retirees, and their families at Poamoho Camp in Wahiawa are working with government agencies, legislators and the business community to preserve their plantation camp and lifestyle.

Being a ILWU member means getting involved in issues that affect the workplace. Above, longshore unit leaders meet with management, the Dept. of Public Safety, and the Dept. of Transportation at the Hawaii Employers’ Council office for a briefing on port security. (l-r) Matson Navigation Co.’s Peter Burns and ILWU members Nathan Dudoit, Wallace Kiyabu, Unit Chair Nate Lum, and David Anderson.

You have rights on the job

As a member of a union, you have rights on the job. With the ILWU you have the combined strength and experience of the union on your side.

You have the right to have a union steward or business agent help you with any problem on the job. You have the right to ask for a union representative if the company calls you into a meeting which may lead to disciplinary action.

You put yourself at a disadvantage when you try to settle a problem by yourself, or when you fail to let your union know of problems you and your fellow workers have.

If you have a question or You have rights on the job problem on the job, the first thing you should do is talk to your on-the-job union steward.

Your company is called a “unit” within the ILWU structure. Each unit has its own elected officers and union stewards, who serve as volunteers. They get no special treatment or privileges from the company or from the union, but they are ready to help you and your fellow workers.

Get involved in your union!

Know your rights. Read and understand your rights and benefits under the union contract and the ILWU Constitution. You can get copies from your union representative. Take an active part in shaping your working life. Get to know your union stewards and get involved with union activities. The union is only as strong as its members.

Come to union meetings. You’ll learn about your rights as a working person. It’s an education that will make you a better person and your employment at your company more rewarding and enjoyable. Your participation in the union is always welcome and you will be glad you got involved. Meeting notices are posted on the union bulletin board, along with other important announcements. Make it a practice to regularly read the notices on the union bulletin board.