The ILWU joined thousands of workers from various Hawaii unions on October 23 in a demonstration to protest President Bush’s union busting and anti-working family policies. The demonstration, also attended by progressive organizations and community members, was held at the main entrance of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel in Waikiki where Bush was scheduled to attend a Republican Party fundraiser.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Act which threatens to undermine many of our constitutional rights. In his speech to the Convention, Remar focused on how these new laws affect dock workers.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ILWU. Fiercely dedicated to the fight for social and workplace justice, she has given nearly the last 60 years of her life in service to union members, to students, to the terminally ill who wish to die with dignity, to the community at large.

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League, convinced of the need for union political action, and certain that working people needed to exercise the right to vote in order to secure whatever gains they were able to make through unionization. The League was the first union political action organization in Hawaii.

Brothers and Sisters, Aloha. Or as I’d say on the mainland . . . Brothers and sisters, welcome. Or as I’d say back where I come from . . . good day, mates.

My name is Harry Bridges. And I know, even here, some of you are saying who the hell is the fella with the funny accent ‘Cause, I’m just a working stiff, always have been and always will be.

But I was also President of this union for 40 years, from 1937 till 1977, and that’s a long time to be anything, especially the President of this union.

good provisions here that protect transportation workers, that protect the communities around the ports and rail hubs, airports and that protect the nation as well from terrorism.

The ILWU reached a landmark agreement with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) on Saturday, November 23, 2002, that will benefit workers, the shipping industry, consumers and our economy. ILWU leaders say the contract is a winwin for West Coast ports, workers and nation’s consumers.

Labor’s response to globalization was on the minds of a couple hundred ILWU members and supporters as they rallied at the longshore Local 10 hall Oct. 10.

Local 34 retiree Asher Harer.

With this year’s contract fight, ILWU members join the legions of dockworkers around the world who have been fighting privatization and casualization for more than a decade. Shipping and stevedoring companies have led the anti-worker drive, but governments everywhere have backed them up.

Edited by Harvey Schwartz, Curator, ILWU Oral History Collection

This article features the recollections of Louis Goldblatt, who was the union’s International secretary-treasurer for 34 years and an ILWU leader who made significant contributions to labor history. Goldblatt’s testimony focuses on the ILWU’s early days in the Islands, his own leadership role and his relationship with long-time Hawaii Regional Director Jack Hall.