Vice President Joe Biden spoke to thousands of union members in a virtual town hall conversation hosted by the AFL-CIO on March 17, 2011.

“You can’t have a strong middle class without unions, without organization, without organized labor. “You guys built the middle class,” said Biden.

“I would just emphasize what Hilda [Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis] said and say it slightly different: We don’t see the value of collective bargaining, we see the absolute positive necessity of collective bargaining.

The thirty-fifth Convention of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union will be held beginning June 4, 2012 to June 8, 2012 at Del Coronado, in San Diego, California. On the basis of the International’s records to date, Local 142 will be entitled to 145 votes.

The Hawaii Division held their annual Recognition Night festivities on February 11 at the beautifully decorated Union Hall. Members and retirees gathered for an evening of celebration and thanks. A thirty-five year tradition for the Big Island, the evening featured retirees, Local President Isaac Fiesta and Hawaii Division Director Richard Baker, both of whom are retiring this year.

On February 13, 2012, a group of 11 Japanese labor leaders arrived in Hawaii to show their support for the workers of Pacific Beach Hotel. The delegation comprised of leaders from the All Japan Dockworkers Union (Zenkowan), the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the National Federation of Dockworkers’ Unions of Japan (Zenkoku-kowan) and Labor Now.

The tri-annual Convention will be held at the Hotel del Coronado at 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118 beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 4, 2012, and closing on or about Friday, June 8, 2012. The elected Convention delegates will vote to decide the International budget, proposed increases in per-capita rates, as well as policies and direction of the ILWU for the next three-year period.

There are three stories in this issue of the VOICE where awards and honors are given to individual union members and the union organization at their work places (we call them units in the ILWU). On page seven there are stories where Kauai and Maui Divisions recognized their outstanding unit leaders and units. On page eight is a story on how Hawaii Division has been honoring their units and unit leaders at a Recognition Banquet which is now in its 36th year. Oahu Division also honors their unit leaders, but this function was put on hold this year.

If you want more information about your union or union contract; if you have a problem on the job; if you want to become more involved with your union, the first person you should talk to is your union steward or unit officer.

Unit officers and stewards are elected by the members of your unit to help their fellow union members on the job. They serve as volunteers and receive no extra pay or special treatment.

If you don’t know who your officers or stewards are, ask your fellow workers. Some units will post the names of the officers and stewards on the union bulletin board.

Hawaii Division has two offices where a clerk will answer your call from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday (closed on holidays). Leave a message if you get the answering machine during their lunch break.

Hilo Office
Ann Chong works out of the Hilo Office. You can usually reach Elmer Gorospe, Delbert DeRego, and George Martin at the Hilo Office.

Honokaa Office 
Sui Sin Poy Coloma works out of the Honokaa Office. You can usually reach Gregory Gauthier in Honokaa.

The main office in Maui Division is in Wailuku at 896 Lower Main street. The ILWU also has an office in Lahaina, Phone: (808) 667- 7155; 840 Wainee St. Unit H4 & H5 and on Lanai. These offices are open as needed for meetings and other activities.

Maui is the largest Division in the ILWU with close to 9,000 members. Maui Division includes Molokai and Lanai which requires travel among the islands to service members. Maui is also the only division which still has a sugar company. Most of Maui’s members work in the tourism industry.

The Hawaii Longshore Division shares their phone number with the main switch board of the Honolulu ILWU Office. Longshore members should ask for the Longshore Division or Lynette Mau who can direct you to your business agent