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Hawaii’s Department of Labor returns to serving workers

The Oahu Division Executive Board (DEB) meeting on April 29, 2011 featured State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Director Dwight Takamine.

Under Republican Governor Linda Lingle, private profit and private business came first. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations lost 61 positions, programs were underfunded, and enforcement was lax. Pro-business people were put in charge of key programs and workers rights became secondary.

Notice of Primary Election at Local 142 Convention

A run-off election may be held for candidates nominated for Local 142 titled officer (President, Vice President, or Secretary-Treasurer) or industrial grouping (Longshore, Sugar, Pineapple, Tourism, or General Trades) executive board member on the last day of the Local Convention, September 21, 2012.

Vote for union endorsed candidates

2012 Election At-A-Glance

Primary Election Absentee Application by: Aug. 4, 2012
Primary Election: Aug. 11, 2012
General Election Registration Deadline: Oct. 8, 2012
General Election Absentee Application by: Oct. 30, 2012
General Election: Nov. 6, 2012

Voter Information: http://hawaii.gov/elections

Highlights of the 35th International Convention

The rank-and-file members of the ILWU make the policies that direct the work of the International union. This democratic duty of ILWU members is done once every three years at a five-day Convention. The 35th International Convention was held this year from June 4 - 8 at the Del Coronado Hotel on Coronado Island in San Diego, California.

Policies adopted by the 35th Convention

“The alliance between the ILWU and the Panama Canal Pilots is one of the most strategic in the world,” Vice President (Mainland) Ray Familathe said. “This is one of the most positive things to happen in our union for years. Please welcome the Panama Canal Pilots to the ILWU family.”

Remembering Fred Lee: A self-styled curmudgeon with a heart of gold

Fred Lee passed away unexpectedly on May 20, 2012. He was 85 years old. He retired in 1989 as the ILWU’s Contract Administrator for 20 years. In retirement, Fred served on the Board of the ILWU Memorial Association and was active in the ILWU pensioner program and political action program, representing Oahu pensioners on the Local PAC. Fred was known for being a hard-hitting negotiator, a nononsense contract administrator, and an experienced educator, but he is best known for his colorful language and his deep and abiding loyalty to the ILWU.

Frankie DeCosta: He was everywhere; he was “Mr. Kekaha.”

Frankie DeCosta passed away on June 10, 2012 at the age of 84. He was a longtime member of the ILWU at Kekaha Sugar Company and was heavily involved in the Union, his community, and the Democratic Party. He was a rascal, a charmer, and a strong ILWU member to the end. Clayton Dela Cruz, retired Kauai Division Director, gave the following eulogy at Frankie’s service.

Voice of the ILWU

—PROCEDURES—

NOMINATION—September 1-15, 2012 
Nomination Petitions (ILWU-E-Form 14) signed by 25 members in good standing must be submitted to the Local Secretary-Treasurer between September 1 and September 15, 2012, inclusive. The Local President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, and members of the Local Executive Board At-Large from the Industrial Groupings shall be nominated from the floor at the Local Convention.

Statewide Foodland caucus held; negotiations to start in the fall

 

HONOLULU—A statewide caucus of Foodland Super Market Ltd. delegates was held in Honolulu on August 1-2, 2013.

Voice of the ILWU

Michael Machado 
Division Director

Michael Machado was hired at the Princeville Development Corporation in 1976 as a maintenance first class worker. Michael served as unit chair, vice chair, editor and organizer from 1977 to 1989. Michael was elected as a business agent in 1989 to 2009.

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