Every ILWU member should be taught to see a steward or unit officer first about problems or concerns on the job. They should be advised never to try to settle their problems with management by themselves.

There are four reasons for this: 

1) the member will not have the strength of the union behind them; 
2) the member may make a deal with management that could hurt other members or even be a violation of the contract;

3) the member is not trained to handle the grievance properly and may miss time limits and make other mistakes; and 

4) it weakens the union because management knows that workers who bypass the union are not strong union members and will use these workers to divide the union.

Division Executive Board meetings bring ILWU members together from many industries and makes them feel part of a larger union organization. Hawaii Civil Rights Commission Executive Director William D. Hashijo (third from left) explains how the HCRC helps workers who have suffered discrimination on the job to the Oahu Division Executive Board.

Members should be educated that they have the right to ask for a union representative when management calls them into a meeting or asks them questions which could lead to disciplinary action. This includes a telephone call from the boss. This is called “Weingarten Rights.”

Once the member asks for a union representative, the company should stop the discussion, and the member should not answer any more questions. The company can call any steward available—the member cannot insist on a particular unit officer or business agent. When a union steward arrives, the member should consult with the steward first, but the company can continue the questioning.

Members should be advised to “work first and grieve later.” This means a member should obey their supervisor’s order and do the work, even if they believe it is a violation of the contract or unfair treatment. They could politely inform their supervisor that they will be seeing their union steward about the matter.

There are only three exceptions to “work first and grieve later”—if the job is dangerously unsafe, illegal, or immoral. You should protest to the boss and offer to do something else. You still risk being disciplined for insubordination, but if the job was really unsafe, illegal, or immoral, the discipline will probably not be upheld.

The union contract isn’t enforced by the steward alone or by the business agent. The individual member is just as responsible as anyone else for seeing that the contract is enforced. In fact, unless members know their rights under the contract, the officers and stewards cannot possibly do their job.

You’re invited to attend your Division Executive Board meetings

Most of the work of the ILWU takes place at the Division level, which is made up of all ILWU members on your island, or in the case of the Hawaii Longshore Division, all the members of the longshore industry. Maui Division includes members on the islands of Lanai and Molokai.

The Division Executive Board (DEB) meets monthly to advise the elected full-time officers of the Division (the division director and business agents). The Division Executive Board may also take up concerns from the units and plan Division activities such as Labor Day celebrations.

The officers of every unit in your Division are official members of the Division Executive Board. However, all ILWU members and retirees are welcome to attend these meetings.

When you attend the Division Executive Board meetings, you will have the opportunity to meet ILWU members who work in other industries. You will hear reports and learn about the work of the entire union.

See the big picture 
The ILWU is more than just the workers at your workplace. When you attend the Division Executive Board meetings, you will understand you are part of a statewide organization of workers. You will learn how the ILWU works to improve conditions of all working people in Hawaii.

You can also ask questions and share your ideas on how your union can improve its work. Some Divisions have educational programs or guest speakers at these meetings. All Divisions provide food before their meetings.

Division Executive Boards have a big role in the Local 142 Convention which is held every three years. Divisions are represented at the Convention based on the number of members in each division. Divisions may propose union policies and amendments to the ILWU Constitution at the Convention.

ILWU members may also attend and observe the quarterly Local Executive Board meeting where elected representatives from all Divisions meet to direct the work of the union and carry out the policies set by the Local 142 Convention. The Local Executive Board meeting is usually held in Honolulu at the ILWU’s Atkinson Drive building.

Meeting Dates 
Below are the dates, times, and locations of these meetings.

Hawaii Division - Last Wednesday of every month at 6:00 p.m., 100 W. Lanaikaula Street in Hilo, Harry Kamoku Union Hall. In December, the DEB will be held on Dec. 14, 2011.

Maui Division - Third Wednesday of every month at 6:00 p.m., 896 Lower Main Street, Wailuku ILWU Union Hall. 

Kauai Division - Second Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m., Lihue ILWU Union Hall. 

Oahu Division - Fourth Friday of every month at 6:00 p.m., 451 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu ILWU Union Hall.

 Hawaii Longshore Division - Usually held the week following the Local Executive Board meeting, dates and times to be announced, 451 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu ILWU Union Hall.

How members support their union

Union members can do their part in supporting their union. Specifically each member should:

1. Know the terms of the contract so that they can recognize violations by the employer and help other workers learn about the contract. 

2. Call all violations of the contract to the attention of the steward or union. 

3. Assist the steward in every way to find all the facts about a given violation or grievance. 

4. Go with the steward or business agent, if asked, to see the supervisor. In these meetings, the individual member should follow the tactics agreed upon in advance, let the steward or business agent do most of the talking, and be prepared to support them with the facts when called upon.

5. Recognize that sometimes their grievance is not a good one and that the steward is correct in refusing to handle it. It may not be a good grievance because the member doesn’t understand the contract. If the steward fails to convince the member that the grievance is a poor one, the member has the right to speak to the unit officers or business agent. 

6. Attend union meetings and volunteer for union political action. Read the union bulletin board, The Voice of the ILWU, and help make and carry out union policy. 

7. See to it that the members who work beside them are good union members too; that they are members in good standing; that they attend union meetings, and do their part in building the union.