HONOLULU—This year hundreds of ILWU rank and file union stewards and unit leaders will be attending one-day training classes run by the union.

233 to 202 and 51 to 49. What do these numbers mean? They stand for the number of Democratic versus Republican Congressional representatives and the number of Democratic versus Republican Senators sworn into office Jan. 4, 2007. They stand for a political shift of power from the Republicandominated Congress that was held since 2002 in the Senate and 1994 in the House.

Richard Baker Jr.
Division Director

As the Hawaii Division Director for the past three years, I have tried to lead the Hawaii Division Team to achieve its goals in the areas of organizing, mobilizing, negotiations of good and fair contracts, and building of our unit leadership.

The classes are part of the ILWU’s regular education program that focuses on providing on-going education to rank and file leaders and union members. A democratic union like the ILWU requires an educated and informed membership and on-the-job union leaders who get the support and training they need to do the work of the union. Thus far, six classes have been held on Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, and Oahu, attended by a total of 166 members. More classes will be scheduled later this year and throughout next year.

Reviewed by Gene Vrana, 
Director of Educational Services and Librarian

LIHUE—It was a beautiful Saturday for softball—especially for the Mauna Lani team from Hawaii Division, which defeated perennial champions Kauai Coffee and claimed first place in the 52nd ILWU State Fast Pitch Tournament.

HONOLULU—Oahu Division presented awards recognizing outstanding service by members and units at its Division Executive Board meeting on February 23, 2007.

Individual awards Unit Leader of the Year: Lance Kamada, 4406 - The Honolulu Advertiser; Honorable Mention Earl Totten, 4304 - Del Monte Fresh Produce, Inc

Outstanding Steward: Gaylen Teraoka, 4404 - Pepsi Bottling Group; Honorable Mention Jason Simon, 4406 - MidWeek/ Star-Bulletin.

Tourism conference participants from Maui Division with officers and ILWU-endorsed candidate for Governor Randy Iwase (center) at the Maui Prince Hotel.

It could not have occurred at a more opportune time. More than 50 members of the ILWU met in Washington, D.C. from March 13-17 to lobby members of Congress on issues that matter to working families. Following on the heels of the Dubai Ports World controversy, politicians were more prepared to listen to the agenda of the ILWU.

Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in setting goals for a 20 percent ship emission pollution reduction by the year 2010 for all carriers that call at U.S. ports. He also noted that the efforts in Los Angeles have piqued the interest of the mayors of Seattle and Oakland.