The lastest unemployment figures—for the month of August 2003 came out—and economists were shooked. Everyone thought a few jobs would be created. But U.S. companies cut another 90,000 jobs in August. The job loss was in every industry sector and in every part of the country.

The Report of the Officers is a unique and important part of ILWU democracy. It reaffirms that the rank and file at this Convention make the policies that guide the work of this union. It reaffirms that the Titled Officers must take their direction from the membership.

In this report, the Local President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer review the major work, accomplishments, and shortcomings of our Union during the last three years.

Unlike our other groupings which are based on a single industry, our general trades grouping is made up of many different industries. Some of the larger industries within general trades are: Supermarkets (Foodland, Star Market, Sack ’n Save); Health Care; Macadamia Nut; Automotive; Construction related; Trucking; and Bakeries.

Politics must be our central focus for 2004—continued from page 5

war on March 20, 2003, without the approval of the United Nations, there was another deep drop in Japanese visitors to Hawaii and a smaller decline of West Coast visitors. Again, Waikiki and the Big Island were the hardest hit. 

Despite 9/11 and the Iraq War, we were able to negotiate fair contracts with most of our hotels. Hotel wage increases averaged 3.5% during this period.

Alfred Castillo (r), president of the Kauai Division Pensioner Council and the McBryde club, presents a prize to one of his fellow retirees.

A coalition of five unions, representing several thousand unionized civilian workers employed by the U.S. Department of Defense, have formed a coalition to protect their rights and protest a plan they say would destroy the federal civil service system.

One issue dominating union contract negotiations in every industry around the country—healthcare benefits. No one has anything like security in their lives if a sudden illness or catastrophic accident can wipe out their family’s savings or they can’t get the medical attention they need and face death because they can’t afford help.

On March 31, 2003, the Department of Labor (DOL) proposed a regulation that would make millions of workers ineligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act. DOL plans to issue a final regulation later this year. Legislation introduced by Representatives Peter King and George Miller would stop the Administration from implementing any regulation that takes away workers’ right to overtime pay.

A new law passed by the Hawaii State Legislature allows workers to use their own sick leave days to care for their seriously ill child or other family member. The law took effect on July 1, 2003, and applies to all employers with 100 or more employees.

George Bush and his administration are pushing another trade deal which threatens to destroy more U.S. jobs. The “Free Trade Area of the Americas” is expected to be finalized in 2004 and be fully implemented by the end of 2005. The agreement is with 31 countries of North, South, Central America
and the Caribbean (Cuba was not invited to participate).