AQ doing what she did best...giving galvanizing speeches. She is pictured here giving a fiery speech that earned a standing ovation at the 32nd ILWU International Convention in 2003.

...If you don’t know, you better ask somebody... 

This is someone to be proud of when you think of ILWU history; this is part of your labor legacy.

KALAHEO — The 39th Annual State Basketball Tournament was held on May 18, 2019 at Kalaheo Gym on Kauai.

This year the state tournament was held in May instead of December. Maui Division was unable to get a team because of the timing, but all other divisions participated with Kauai competing with an extra team.

If you are a new member reading this, welcome to the ILWU Local 142! With over 18,000 members statewide, the ILWU Local 142 is the biggest private-sector union in Hawaii. ILWU Local 142 members work in every major industry such as pineapple, tourism, longshore, transportation, service sector and hospitals. Continue reading the Voice to learn more information about joining our `ohana!

As a new member, you are now part of a growing family of over 18,000 members strong. You are part of a long and proud tradition where workers organize to promote fairness and justice on the job. Your membership with the ILWU Local 142 is just the beginning of an exciting journey that will allow you to collectively bargain for improved working conditions.

Your union contract is a written agreement with your employer. It defines your wages, benefits, conditions of employment, and rights on the job. It is enforceable through a grievance procedure and ultimately in a court of law

Most union contracts are renegotiated every three years, although some contracts run for only one year and others run for as long as six years. How long the contract runs is up to you and your negotiating committee. The ILWU is a democratic union and members are involved in every step of the negotiating process.

Quiet, but effective. Most who knew Michael Murata would note his unassuming nature and strong work ethic.

The ILWU is deeply grateful to Michael and his ‘ohana for their contributions and sacrifices over 20 years of service to the union. His work to create the foundation of the Contract Administration Department serves as his legacy. Local 142 continues to benefit from his groundwork. We will miss his wisdom, dedication and gentle nature. Rest in Aloha.

HONOLULU — The ILWU is a union that values its members. The union is only as strong as its members, and thankfully Local 142 has members who have longevity within the organization.

Unit 4409 Island Movers has two members who have over 80 years combined of union membership between them. Island Movers is one of the only moving companies in Hawaii that is unionized.

On March 13, production workers at San Francisco’s Anchor Steam brewery made history by voting to join the ILWU – becoming one of the first craft breweries to go union. The margin was 31-16 but the numbers increased two days later when service workers at the Anchor Public Taps voted 6-2 for the union. The victory capped-off a year of quiet organizing that went public on February 7, when 39 workers signed a letter telling the company they wanted a union.

KONA — The 38th Annual State Basketball Tournament was held on December 8, 2018 at Kekuaokalani Gym on the Big Island.

Hawaii Division, as state champions for the past two years, defended their title on their home turf and served as the host for the event.

Representative teams from all Divisions - Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu - showed up with excitement and good-natured, competitive spirits.

Run by the Rank-and-File 
Local 142 is one of 60 individual locals that make up the ILWU. These local unions are located in California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Canada, and Panama. Most of these locals were part of the ILWU since the 1930s and share the same principles of a democratic union run by the membership.

You are a member of a Unit within the ILWU. Units elect their own officers and hold regular membership meetings to run their affairs and carry out union programs. Units are the basic building block of the ILWU’s democratic structure.