Healthcare and Job security topped the list as the two most important public policy issues for ILWU members, according to a survey of 122 unit leaders who attended training classes this year. The “Member to Member Survey” asked people to list the biggest concerns facing working families.

For Labor Day 2002, the ILWU collaborated with other unions in several activities statewide to celebrate the labor holiday.

Oahu On Oahu, 

LIHUE—Each year, Kauai pensioners look forward to a day of fun and camaraderie at the annual Kauai Division Pensioner Picnic. This year was no exception as 250 pensioners filled the patio of the ILWU building on Kauai. Kauai Pensioner Council president, Alfred Castillo, was pleased with the turnout.

This being an election year, the picnic brought out many ILWUendorsed candidates to speak to the crowd, including Ron Kouchi, JoAnn Yukimura, Gary Hooser, Mina Morita and others. Pensioners appreciated hearing from all the candidates and are more likely than most to turn out and vote.

Hotel operators maintained a healthy profit margin of 16 percent in 2001, despite a downturn in the economy in the first half of 2001 and the impact of the terrorist attacks on travel after September 11. Pre-tax profits for the industry was $16.7 billion on revenues of $108.7 billion.

remove the right of collective bargaining for public and private workers from the State Constitution. 

Politics affects our lives everyday. The right to form and belong to a union, labor laws protecting workers, Social Security, and the right of all children to attend school are benefits that exist for working families today but may change depending on who gets elected to office.

That is why the ILWU Political Action Committee (PAC) has prepared a list of endorsed candidates. Your PAC believes that these candidates will best work to preserve the rights we enjoy today and help us pursue additional benefits, such as improved Medicare and prescription drug coverage.