LIHUE—With today’s hustle and bustle, we often forget to praise and thank the people who do so much for their communities. This is true of the many unit officers and stewards who volunteer their time to help their fellow workers and serve the union.
Kauai Division made it a point by giving special recognition to those outstanding individuals at their annual recognition banquet held at the Kauai ILWU Union Hall in Lihue on December 18, 2015.
HONOLULU—Under the bright sun and brisk trade winds, the ILWU 30th Annual Slow-Pitch Softball Tournament was played on Saturday, October 3, 2015. The tournament was hosted by the Oahu Division and played at the Salt Lake District Park.
Young Brothers, Ltd., union negotiating committee members: Standing (l-r): Michael Victorino, Michael “Sully” Sullivan, Dennis Morton, Elgin Calles, Dennis Saniatan Sr., Charlton “Kana” Wallace, Tyrone Tahara. Sitting (l-r): Drake Delaforce, Shawna Rapoza, Nate Lum, Jesse Andrade, Gary Talbert, Royale Komomua, and Robyn DeCambra.
PUUNENE—“Look. I want to show you this,” Fely Corpuz says as she rifles through a care-worn photo album. “Me at the first parade,” she says, smiling as she looks at a photo of herself in a ti leaf-trimmed float for HC&S. “Me at the last one.” She turns to the last page in her album to show the picture on the right and sighs. But continues to smile.
On December 6, the ILWU International Executive Board voted unanimously to adopt a statement of policy opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). The controversial project is opposed by Native Americans across the continent because it threatens Native lands and water. The pipeline’s original route would have crossed the Missouri River upstream from Bismarck, North Dakota, but was rerouted because of concerns that an oil leak would contaminate the City’s water supply.
HONOLULU—On January 18, 2017, over 80 ILWU members and retirees from all divisions went to the state capitol for the opening day of the Hawaii State Legislature. Opening day is the official start of the annual legislative session, which runs from mid-January to early May. Within the span of those lessthan-five months, state legislators make decisions on which bills become the laws that impact our lives every day.
there’s lots of jobs for all of us who were laid off. There are lots of jobs, but not a lot of good-paying jobs that let you live in Hawaii as it gets more expensive. The union got us good wages. It’s hard to find another job that will pay like that.”
On behalf of Local 142, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the workers in the sugar industry who helped make the union strong. With the closure of HC&S, we saw the end of an entire industry that created so much of life as we know it here in Hawaii. Sugar is pau. However, the values we treasure as a union and as a community will live on.
Unit 1413 - Big Island Toyota accepting their award for Outstanding Unit (1-29 members). Front (l-r): Jordan Matsuno, Cody Baptista, Unit Chair Gregory Wagner, Jr., Lawrence Cabral, Rose Bautista (Mayor Harry Kim’s representative, Business Agent George Martin.
HONOLULU—On Saturday December 10, 2016, ILWU held its 36th Annual State Basketball Tournament at Kaimuki Community Park Gym. Players, anxious to get started, practiced on the outside courts while they waited for the gym to open.