A 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.

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 every election, the ILWU Political Action Committee interviews dozens of candidates and questions them on issues important to workers. Union members are then urged to vote for only those candidates who will work to help working families.

Dignity, job rights, self respect are priceless benefits of unionism

High wages and good benefits wouldn’t mean much if your boss can hire his niece to take your place and cut your schedule to one-hour a day.

You would be unhappy if your boss gave everyone a rest break except you, refused to give you a promotion, or threatened to fire you for any reason. Such treatment is unfair, but without a union, workers are powerless to stand up to management.

When workers are organized into a union, they have the collective power to act as a group and negotiate an employment contract with their employer. The contract is legally binding and enforceable. The contract defines your wages, benefits, and rights such as seniority.

Most workers organize unions because of bad working conditions and poor treatment by management and not for higher wages and benefits. When workers are organized into unions, they gain the power to change their working conditions and demand respect and fair treatment from management.

With a union, workers have job security and can not be fired, transferred, or demoted at the whim of their bosses.

In the United States, workers are hired “at will.” This means employers can fire a worker for any or no reason. You work at the employer’s will.

U.S. and Hawaii law only protects a worker from being fired for an illegal reason—such as discrimination by race, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, ancestry, disability, marital status, or arrest and court record.

However, unionized workers have a written contract which protects them from being unfairly fired or mistreated on the job.

With a union, workers gain the power to meet with management on equal terms and bargain collectively to improve their wages and benefits.

Union workers no longer have to go to their boss as individuals and beg for an increase in wages.

With a union, workers have a voice on the job because management is required to negotiate with them on any changes in the terms and conditions of employment. Where workers have no union, management can take away benefits and change conditions on the job at any time without advance notice.

Unions give workers dignity, respect, and a voice on the job. Many workers consider these to be the most valuable benefit of having a union.

You have rights on the job

As a union member, 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 problem, 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 receive 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 and Bylaws. You can get copies of the Constitution or contract 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 worker. It’s an education that will make you a better person and your employment at your company more rewarding. 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 your union bulletin board.