Are you a new employee, hired within the last 12 months?

If so, this issue of the Voice of the ILWU was prepared especially for you. As a union member, you are entitled to many rights and benefits and some responsibilities. This issue will help get you started with the essential information you need as a member of the ILWU. (Even longtime members may find the information useful.)

Higher wages, better benefits, and good working conditions are the most obvious advantages of being organized in a union. Based on the latest government statistics, union workers earn almost $10 an hour MORE in wages and benefits, compared with non-union workers.

The average total compensation package for union workers is valued at $31.64 an hour, while non-union workers trailed far behind at $21.81 an hour.

Believe it or not, most workers organize into unions because of bad working conditions and poor treatment by management and not for higher wages and benefits. When workers are organized into unions, they gain the power to change their working conditions and demand respect and fair treatment from management.

Local 142 is the one of 65 separate unions which make up the ILWU. These local unions are located in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Canada, and Hawaii. Most of these locals were part of the ILWU since the 1930s and share the same principles of a democratic union run by the membership. Each local union could operate on its own, but has chosen to be part of the ILWU.

A third and very important benefit of union membership goes far beyond your job. You are now a member of a workers’ organization--dedicated to defend your interests as a worker and to promote the general welfare of you and your family.

This is spelled out in the ILWU Declaration of Principles:

A single worker is powerless to bargain with his employer for good wages and conditions. In the same way, a single voter can’t do much to influence the legislature.

Workers join unions so they can bargain as an organized group, and this pays off in better wages, working conditions, and job security. Likewise, unionized workers can organize their votes, which gives them the power to get laws passed that benefit workers and their families.

The 47th Annual Mixed Bowling Tournament was held at the Orleans Hotel, Casino & Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 25- 26, 2003. This year, the traveling group numbered 58, with 36 doubles and 35 individuals entered (there was no team event).