HONOLULU—On February 26, 2010, Oahu Division suspended the important work of its Division Executive Board meeting take the time to thank and recognize the outstanding rank-and-file leaders who served as the “front line” at ILWU units throughout Oahu in 2009.

Unit treasurers have the responsibility of safeguarding union funds. They must check dues paying members and the company seniority list to make sure all members are paying their share of union dues. The treasurers must also make sure all spending by the unit is authorized by the members of the unit.

ILWU financial policies and federal law require all units to get membership approval before spending unit funds. These funds come from union dues paid by members of the unit.

Vital for survival of HC&S

A return to good cultivation practices has paid off for HC&S. Sugar yields are very high, and every field has produced 2-3 tons more sugar than the goals set by the company. The company should do well this year with the increased production and record high prices of sugar on the U.S. and world market. HC&S members will get a big bonus as their collective bargaining agreement provides for profit sharing.

Over 100 ILWU members at eight Kaiser Permanente clinics approved a new contract settlement. The ILWU represents the medical imaging technicians such as X-ray, CAT Scans, Ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Other Kaiser workers are represented by the Hawaii Nurse’s Association and UniteHERE. The Nurses approved a contract with Kaiser but UniteHERE remains in negotiations with management.

Kaiser is one of the medical plan options offered under many ILWU contracts and with the ILWU Health and Welfare Trust Fund.

National Labor Relations Board orders HTH management to obey the law.

ILWUrank-and-filemembers fromtheHonoluluStar-Advertiser, ILWULocalExecutiveBoardmembers andsupporters fromthe30thWesternRegionalSummerInstitute forUnionWomenralliedonJune 17,2011tocallforHTHmanagement to stop the delays and injustices to workers of the Pacific Beach Hotel.

The 2011 Session of Hawaii’s State Legislature was preoccupied with trimming $1.2 billion from the cost of operating the state’s government, but a number of important laws were passed which will benefit workers.

Reinstatement, bargaining, and payment of union’s bargaining expense ordered

The National Labor Relations Board, in a 3-0 decision issued on Tuesday June 14, 2011, found that the Pacific Beach Hotel (HTH Corp.), violated the National Labor Relations Act in numerous respects—the latest episode in a 10-year effort by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) to secure a collective bargaining agreement for approximately 500 employees at the prominent Waikiki lodging.

Caucus members look to future with a focus on improving medical, pensions and organizing new members

Over 180 member-delegates from 84 ILWU units attended the first caucus of the union’s General Trades Industrial Grouping on June 20 and 21, 2011. Delegates from the union’s Sugar and Pineapple Groupings, and Longshore Grouping mechanics also attended the meeting. Included in the count of delegates are 38 full-time officers and staff of the union.

Nine fortunate and deserving high school seniors from ILWU families are the 2011 winners of the Harriet Bouslog Labor Scholarship. The scholarships will pay part of the tuition for a full-time student for up to eight semesters at any of the University of Hawaii campuses. The scholarships range from $2,000 per semester while attending the UH Manoa, $1,000 per semester while attending UH Hilo or UH West Oahu, and $750 per semester for any of the UH community colleges.

Building stronger unions through education

HONOLULU—The 30th Annual Western Regional Summer Institute for Union Women (SIUW) was held June 16-20, 2011 at the Ala Moana Hotel, whose workers are members of UNITE HERE Local 5. Over 80 union activists from more than 20 Locals in Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska participated in the Institute.