U.S. Representative District 1 candidate Colleen Hanabusa spent time with ILWU members’ and employees’ children when she participated in an Oahu Division Executive Board Family Night in 2014. Hanabusa has deep roots in Hawaii and shares the political and social views that have made the ILWU a progressive and forward looking union.
The Coast Longshore Division held its caucus in Panama from April 18-22. The historic meeting demonstrated the strong bonds of solidarity between the newly formed Panama Canal Division of the ILWU and the Longshore Division. The event drew substantial media interest from Panamanian press.
The Hawaii Longshore Division shares their phone number with the main switchboard of the Honolulu ILWU Hall. Longshore members should ask for the Longshore Division. Executive Secretary Lynette Mau will direct you to your business agent or take a message. You can also phone or email your business agent after hours. Your unit chair usually has the business agent’s cell phone number and email. Business agents are required to carry their union supplied cell phone and to be available during reasonable hours seven days a week.
When the ILWU began organizing in Hawaii, a handful of wealthy families owned the sugar and pineapple plantations and the largest companies. Individuals from these families, their attorneys, or the managers and supervisors of their companies ran for elected office as Republicans. Workers were expected to vote for Republicans and could lose their jobs if they voiced any objections or supported Democrats. In this way, big business and their wealthy owners controlled the legislature and government.
Oahu Division shares their phone number with the main switchboard of the Honolulu ILWU Hall. Members should ask for Oahu Division. Division Clerk Lisa Maehara or Senior/General Office Clerk Serena Takahashi will direct you to your business agent or take a message. You can also phone or email your business agent after hours. Your unit chair usually has the business agent’s cell phone number and email. Business agents are required to carry their union supplied cell phone and to be available during reasonable hours seven days a week.
Mike Machado, retired Kauai Division Director, took this group photo of the pensioners attending the conference from Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai.
Rank-and-file union women attended the Summer Institute for Union Women to learn and bring back knowledge to their units. “Without units there would be no union! We all need to understand the importance of the union,” said Noelani Rasmussen, Unit 1515 Fairmont Orchid Hawaii.
A diverse group of 100 rank-andfile members and elected leaders attended the ILWU’s Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) training in Seattle on May 7-12. The week-long education program seeks to provide tools that attendees can take back to their local unions that will encourage new leadership and more membership involvement -- both fundamental tenants of the ILWU belief that strong unions are built from the bottom-up.
“What have you done for me lately?”
People ask this question of politicians all the time. It is easy to grow cynical and weary of politicians, especially in the era of Trump.
However, there is still reason to hope because action can still be taken at a state level working with Hawaii’s local politicians.
