The first comprehensive study of adult literacy in the US was done in 1992-1993, following the passage of the National Literacy Act of 1991. The Clinton Administration published the detailed results of the study in August 2003, a few months after the study was completed. The results were startling—26% of American adults had no more than basic literacy skills and 22% had little or no literacy ability in the English language.

A follow-up study was done in 2003 to see if adult literacy improved after 10 years.

“Have you done any volunteer service with an organization to help improve the lives of people in your community?”

When we asked this question of our union officers and stewards, they mentioned volunteering for their school, church, or club. Some shook their heads, embarrassed to say they did nothing. Not one of them said they did volunteer service for their union. Yet every one of them spends many hours every month helping their fellow workers.

HONOLULU—Over 80 rank-and-file leaders from 25 ILWU hotels met for two days at the ILWU Hall in Honolulu on June 18-19, 2007 to build unity within the industry and prepare for upcoming contract negotiations.

William Kennison
Division Director

I would like to continue the work of negotiating the type of Collective Bargaining Agreements that our members deserve. I would like to see that our members wages and benefits reflect their needs in our fast growing economy.

Claro Romero 
Division Director

Claro Romero is from Unit 2409 - Island Movers, where he works as a truck driver.

My goal as a Business Agent is to provide better service to all members. I think that some members feel that they are not getting the representation that they should be getting on the job.

Conference delegates were shown detailed charts of how their wages and benefits compared with other ILWU hotels in the same “class”—luxury, deluxe, standard, or budget. Luxury hotels list most of their rooms at rates of over $500 a night. This is called a “published” or “rack rate” in the travel industry, and is usually much higher than the actual price charged by the hotel.

KANEOHE—“These ILWU members are taking care of the community everyday,” said Unit 4415 - Valley of the Temples Business Agent Shane Ambrose. Everyday, ILWU members who work at the memorial park take tender care of our loved ones who rest on the sloping green hills located at the foot of the Koolau mountains.

Utility worker and unit vice chairperson Troy Garcia digs graves, sets vaults in them, and covers them up with his backhoe. “I like the security of being in a union. If there is no union, the company can do whatever it wants. With a union contract, there are rules it has to follow.”

“Hawaii hotel occupancy down 6.5%”—July 6, 2007, Advertiser.

“Hawaii hotel occupancy rates fell for the 13th straight month in May”—July 7, 2007, Associated Press.

“More visitors seek nonhotel accommodations” —July 6, 2007, Pacific Business News.

Looking at the headlines, you would think the hotel visitor industry was in financial ruins, but reading further in each article there would be some facts that reveal the true story.

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.