“With COVID, everybody’s lives changed, the world stalled, but Union work never stops,” said Local Vice President and Foodland’s negotiation co-spokesperson Corinna Salmo Nguyen. “It was not easy to negotiate a statewide contract with all of the new safety regulations we had to get used to, but as a Union, we work together for a common goal, and that always gets the job done.”
Socially distanced, but still together... ILWU Local 142 has a strong foundation of democracy. In-person interaction usually facilitates full participation in this democracy, but the pandemic severely limited these in-person opportunities. However, the Local managed to uphold its democratic principles during the pandemic by utilizing technology to communicate and connect.
“Love’s Bakery’s closure reminds me of the closure at HC&S,” said ILWU Local 142 President Donna Domingo, referring to the last sugar plantation on Maui that closed in December of 2016. “At both, generations have been working there, and the workers have had so much longevity and commitment. When that comes to an end, it’s a lot to deal with mentally and emotionally. As their union, we need to assess the workers’ challenges so we can best serve them at this time.”
Love’s Bakery members were employed statewide, so the effort to take care of the membership needed to be as comprehensive as possible. A key union value is cooperation; no one does anything alone.
The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) collects and analyzes economic data for the State of Hawaii. The following is their latest forecast that was published on March 5, 2021. A vast majority of this information bodes well for our brothers and sisters in the tourism industry.
Although there are still so many unknowns that can change quickly when it comes to COVID, ILWU Local 142, your Union, will continue to be cognizant of updates like these to best serve the membership and their needs.
Front: Longshore Vice Division Director Eddie Hayashi, Jon White, Josh Green, Dave Chew, Benton Rodden. Back: Hawaii Division Director Elmer Gorospe, Local Secretary-Treasurer Michael Victorino, Jr., Local Vice President Corinna Salmo Nguyen, Oahu Division Director Michael Yamaguchi, Kauai Division Director Rhon- da Morris, Local President Christian West, Kaika Sasaoka, Business Agent Tyrone Tahara. The Statewide PAC gave their official endorsement at the ILWU Honolulu Hall on March 15, 2022.
Close to 100 delegates from 29 West Coast ports from San Diego, CA, to Bellingham, WA, who were elected by members of the ILWU's Longshore Division, met in Long Beach, CA from January 31-February 11 to debate and adopt the priorities for a new Longshore & Clerks Contract. The current contract expires on July 1, 2022. The in-person meeting followed strict COVID protocols to protect delegates, guests, and staff.
1. Curt Kalama, Vice Division Director Eddie Hayashi, Longshore Division Director Dustin Dawson, International Vice President Hawaii Sam Kreutz leading the caucus in general session. 2. Longshore Secretary-Treasurer Drake Delaforce making sure the proceedings are being recorded and running smoothly. 3.
finer form than with the Local Executive Board (LEB). This is the second-highest governing body of the whole union (with the highest being the Local Convention).
All of ILWU Local 142's members work in one of these four industries: longshore, pineapple, tourism and general trades. Representation for each industrial grouping cycles fairly every three years (triennium) between each island division.