by surprise. Many had been born and raised in the camp, which has become a tight-knit community where everyone knows each other. The residents wanted to save Poamoho—they didn’t want their community destroyed.

More time needed 
The ILWU moved quickly to help the residents save their community. The union has a lot of experience in converting plantation camps into low-cost housing for members and retirees. However, it would be almost impossible to develop such a housing program before the June 30 deadline.

HONOLULU—Contract talks between the ILWU and Dole Pineapple will start in early March, then switch to Del Monte around March 22-24. Talks between the Union and Maui Land and Pineapple will be delayed to around August, as members approved a six-month contract extension sought by the company’s management.

HONOLULU—Contract talks between the ILWU and Dole Pineapple will start in early March, then switch to Del Monte around March 22-24. Talks between the Union and Maui Land and Pineapple will be delayed to around August, as members approved a six-month contract extension sought by the company’s management.

In less than ten months—D-day, Nov. 2, 2004—the future of our country and that of the whole world will be decided. If George W. Bush gets another four years in the White House, if both houses of Congress remain controlled by the Republicans, the labor movement will be facing its biggest crisis since the McCarthy witch hunts of the 1950s.

WASHINGTON, D.C—President George W. Bush told Congress on Feb. 20, 2004, that he intends to sign the so-called Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) put together by his Administration. The trade deal is with the countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

HILO—“There is no nobler job than to build this union and help each other.” This message from keynote speaker Ah Quon McElrath sums up the purpose of Hawaii Division’s Annual Unit Recognition Banquet—which honors a group of outstanding ILWU Units that distinguished themselves in their service and dedication to members.

Fred Galdones 
Local President

Safety on the docks may be sacrificed to promote “free” trade and higher profits if the Bush Administration succeeds in implementing new rules to expand the use of Vertical Tandem Lifts (VTL).

WAILUKU, Maui—The 22nd ILWU Men’s Basketball Tournament was held on December 5 and 6, 2003 at the Wailuku Gym. Three teams participated in the tournament, which was sponsored by the ILWU’s Maui Division and run by division sports coordinator Delbert DeRego and ILWU members Douglas and Victoria Cabading, who are both from Unit 2306 - Maui Pineapple Co. (cannery). Also present to assist were Hawaii Division sports coordinators Roy Jardine and Richard Kaniho, and Oahu sports coordinator Brian Tanaka.

Cashiers must be careful when checking I.D.s

It was a busy Saturday afternoon at a Neighbor Island grocery store and a line of customers were waiting impatiently at the checkout counter.

Finally, it was the young man’s turn with the single bottle of beer. The cashier, an ILWU member, asked to see some proof of age. The young man was from outof-state, but he had a local ID. She punched in the birthdate on her cash register, which said the person was old enough. The young man paid for the beer and left the store.