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Unions are part of the solution

Ten days after taking office, President Barack Obama signed three executive orders that recognize a strong labor movement is part of the solution to our economic problems. Obama reversed some of the anti-union policies made by George W. Bush. A fourth executive order creates a White House Task Force for the Middle Class.

Your union contract—what is it?

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 negotiation process.

What does a union do?

As a member of the ILWU Local 142, you are part of a long and proud tradition where workers join or form organizations for their mutual benefit and to promote fairness and justice on the job. These organizations are called unions.

In Hawaii one out of every four workers are members of a labor union. There are 21,000 ILWU members on all major islands in Hawaii, which make the ILWU one of the largest unions in the state. ILWU members work in every major industry including: tourism, longshore, sugar, pineapple, manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare.

How to survive the economic crisis

If you’ve been temporarily laid off, are working fewer hours, or lost your job, you will probably be forced to change your life style and be prepared to live with less income for the next six months or even longer. The economy may pick up later this year, or it may take longer before we recover from this recession. There is a lot you can do to help you and your family survive tough economic times.

Oahu Division honors their workplace heroes

The six Memorial Parks were named the Outstanding Small Units of the year. Accepting the award are: Abeleen Lau (Diamond Head Memorial Park) and James Toma (Mililani Memorial Park, pictured with Business Agent Larry Ruiz (l).

Proven techniques to increase your tips - Part 3

Are you a tipping category hotel worker? Do you want to increase your tipping income by 10 to 30 percent?

Yes? Then read Michael Lynn’s “Mega Tips: Scientifically Tested Techniques to Increase Your Tips.” Lynn explains 14 methods that are proven to increase your tips. 

Prof. Lynn has given us permission to reprint a few of his tips in each issue of the Voice In the Nov-Dec 2008 issue we printed Tip #7 - Repeat Customer’s Order and #11 Smile. 

Young Brothers settle strong contract; build union pride

Young Brothers Ltd. Honolulu port members listen carefully to a report on their tentative agreement before voting overwhelming to accept the settlement on February 27, 2009.

ILWU endorses Mufi Hannemann for governor

ILWU Local 142 President Isaac Fiesta, Jr. announced the union’s endorsement of Mufi Hannemann at a press conference on March 9, 2010. The ILWU’s statewide Political Action Committee made the decision to endorse Hannemann after meeting with both Mufi Hannemann and Neil Abercrombie on March 2, 2010. (L-r) SecretaryTreasurer Guy K.

Sluggish recovery for 2010, faster in 2011

forecast of the University of Hawai’i Economic Research Organization

The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) collects and analyses economic data for the State of Hawaii. The following is their latest forecast on March 26, 2010.

Advertiser & Star-Bulletin workers fight to keep jobs

Over 900 employees of Honolulu’s two daily newspapers have no idea if they will have a job. The people who write the news became the news when they learned about their fate in a press release issued by their employers.

On Feb. 25, 2010, Gannett Company and Oahu Publications, Inc. (OPI) announced in a joint press release that The Honolulu Advertiser would be sold to OPI, a company controlled by David Black. Black’s company already owns the Honolulu StarBulletin, which it purchased in 1991, and the Mid-Week Magazine.

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