The 24th Convention adopted 15 Resolutions which define the policy of the union on certain issues or express the sentiment of the delegation. Following are summaries of these resolutions.
1. Resolution R-1 reaffirms the policies adopted by the 33rd International Convention of the ILWU held in Vancouver, Canada in May 2006. The Convention called on ILWU members to get more active in union political action, to organize the unorganized, to protect the environment and reduce pollution in an around the ports, to promote universal health care and affordable housing, to demand an end to the war in Iraq, and to insist that the United States guarantee workers rights at home and abroad. Local 142 pledges whole-hearted support to work towards the goals expressed in those policies and resolutions.
2. Resolution R-2 commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the Sakada and salutes the Sakadas for their accomplishments in improving the lives of their families in the Philippines and in Hawaii and for the tremendous contributions they made to the labor movement in Hawaii.
3. Resolution R-3 supports Local 142 Tourism Bargaining. The union stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the hotel industry as they negotiate new contracts and applauds their tremendous achievement in raising the conditions of hotel workers in Hawaii.
4. Resolution R-4 supports Longshore Bargaining in 2008. The union stands in total solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Longshore industry and will work to educate all ILWU members and the community and expose the media propaganda and political attacks that will be directed at our Longshore Division.
5. Resolution R-5 welcomes 800 members in new units organized during the past triennium - Wailea Golf Club Attendants, Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa, Kamaaina Motors, Pacific Beach Hotel, Mid-Week/ Star-Bulletin inserters, Grand Wailea Concierge, Kaluakoi Golf Course, Sodexho Maintenance, Luana Hills mechanics and Hawaiian Fluid Power.
6. Resolution R-6 bids Aloha to units whose companies closed down in the past triennium— Schuman Carriage, HT&T Hauling and Repair, Hawaii Naniloa Resort, and the Kapalua Bay Hotel.
7. Resolution R-7 supports Del Monte Hawaii Workers in their fight for transitional benefits. Convention delegates and observers pledge to circulate petitions at their units and in their communities to support the Del Monte workers and to inform the public that Del Monte pineapple will not be Hawaii-grown when Del Monte leaves Hawaii.
8. Resolution R-8 puts the ILWU Local 142 on record urging changes to Medicare Part D, specifically to: 1) allow the federal government to use its buying power to negotiate with drug manufacturers for lower prices; 2) offer simplified benefits with no coverage gap; 3) and reconsider privatization of the program. Convention delegates and observers pledge to take advantage of Medicare Part D while educating themselves, their members, and their families about the pitfalls of the program.
Convention speakers included Mazie Hirono, who has since been elected to the US House representing Hawaii’s Congressional District 2 (rural Oahu and the neighbor islands).
9. Resolution R-9 extends good wishes to Big Island Business Agent Roy Jardine on his retirement in August 2006.
10. Resolution R-10 extends warm wishes to Local Executive Board member Daisy Nakamoto for a happy retirement spent with her family and friends—and the ILWU.
Contract Administration
11. Resolution RCA-1 supports the ILWU Health and Welfare Trust Fund and will strive to educate members to support the Fund as part of a long-term strategy to control medical costs. For those current contracts that have an agreement to re-open the contract if a Health and Welfare Fund is established, the employer will be contacted to initiate such discussions.
Political Action 12. Resolution RPAC-1 challenges all Units to increase their involvement with the ILWU Political Action Program and make it their goal to register at least 80% of their eligible members and achieve a voter turnout of 70% or better.
Membership Services 13. Resolution RMSD-1 supports the VEBA Trust which stands for Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association. The future of the ILWU VEBA Trust will depend on members’ commitment to the concept and willingness to recruit other units into the program. The Convention strongly supports the ILWU VEBA Trust and delegates are urged to help their unit members to understand the VEBA program and encourage participation.
14. Resolution RMSD-2 supports the United Way in the tradition of Jack Hall and this support is extended also to the Labor’s Community Services Program of Hawaii. The Convention urges all members to donate to the United Way. The ILWU will also promote volunteerism and involvement in the community. ◆
Break-even budget adopted
Convention delegates unanimously adopted a threeyear budget that maintains existing services of the union with no increase in union dues. The recommended 2007-2009 budget is a “break-even” budget, with expenses almost equal to income. The projected deficit over the three years of the triennium is $272,935.
One of the major expenses of the new budget was the mandatory contribution to the Staff Pension Plan, which provides Act basically requires any underfunding in a pension plan to be made up in seven years beginning in 2007. This would have cost more than $1.5 million for the current plan with significantly increasing amounts required each year. To reduce the funding requirement to $1.4 million annually for seven years, the Staff Pension Plan will be amended to provide for a benefit based on a “career average formula” instead of the “high five” years.
All scheduled pay increases for Full-Time Officers in the next triennium are suspended, but the increase for January 1, 2007 is budgeted. The pay increases may be released, in whole or partially, by the Titled Local Officers.
The union’s finance policies were revised to increase mileage for non-full time personnel from $.30 to $.40 per mile and to allow the Titled Officers to authorize donations up to $5,000.
There is no increase in Local dues which will remain at 2 percent of gross wages. ◆
