November 3 was a hard day to face. For nearly a year-and-a-half the ILWU and most of the rest of the American labor movement poured its heart, soul and resources into the effort to defeat Bush and his radical anti-worker agenda. We had great hopes we could get off the defensive and start moving an agenda to improve the lives of American workers. But that did not work out.

Still, it is not cause for despair. Much was accomplished in the effort, and that will be important as we move on in our mission protect and advance the interests of ILWU members and all workers.

Late 2006 is the target date set by the Hawaii Superferry company to begin operating an inter-island passenger and freight ferry service with the first of two high-speed, giant catamarans. The twin-hulled catamarans are as long as a football field and will have the capacity to carry 900 passengers and 285 cars (or 20 trucks and 65 cars). Travel time between Honolulu and Maui or Kauai would be about three hours and 4-5 hours from Honolulu to Kona.

Back in the day, locally owned coffee companies lined the streets facing San Francisco’s waterfront. Longshore Local 10 members literally rolled sacks of beans across the street for roasting and shipping by warehouse Local 6 members. 

Now just one of those local coffee companies remains, and it has moved to Oakland.

Light manufacturing has gone the way of coffee and the Warehouse Division has hemorrhaged members up and down the Coast. Longshore work has changed as well, though membership has held steady.

WAHIAWA—The parking lot is spacious—and needs to be—to accommodate the constant flow of excited visitors to Dole Plantation. The first thing you see is a beautifully landscaped slope leading up to the large main building, the word “Dole” spelled out in colorful foliage against the green lawn. ILWU members are responsible for maintaining all of the grounds at Dole Plantation.

Students of Maui’s King Kekaulike High School will soon be getting the inside scoop on what it’s like to work as a business agent for a union. Maui ILWU division director William Kennison is scheduled to speak to the students as part of the school’s career day program this semester.

Frozen or fresh baked bread?

ILWU members at Love’s Bakery are negotiating a new labor agreement and the company wants cuts in wages and benefits. The company claims the cuts are needed because of stiff competition from frozen bread. Grocery stores are selling the thawed, previously frozen bread which comes from the mainland on the same shelves as the fresh baked bread produced by Love’s Bakery.

Hawaii Division Sports Coordinators Roy Jardine (left) and Richard Kaniho (right) with Bully Kahalioumi of Transcontinental Corp., who took second place in the Men’s A Flight as well as winning the Fred Paulino Memorial Men’s Low Gross Award.

We take for granted that the foods we eat and the drugs we take are safe and won’t poison us or make us sick. This confidence is the result of almost 100 years of needed government regulation of the quality and safety of our food supply. Some of these regulations are mandatory, some are voluntary, and some give consumers a choice by providing information.

 Are our food and drugs safe?

In September 2004, drug manufacturer Merck voluntarily withdrew its anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx from the market. A long-term study of the drug found an increased risk of serious heart attacks and strokes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Public Health Advisory to inform patients of this action and to advise them to consult with a physician about alternative medications.

HONOLULU—When you buy a fresh island egg, many people benefit. You get the freshest product for your family. Hawaii’s egg farmers have a market for their products, which helps our economy. And the employees at Eggs Hawaii, Inc. have work to do—cleaning, processing and delivering island eggs to our supermarkets.

A state inspector is present every day at the Eggs Hawaii production plant to check that quantity (size or weight), quality (grading) and sanitation requirements are met.