Every two years, the Hotel Industry - ILWU Pension Plan sends a team to the Philippines to investigate, monitor, and review the situation of retired ILWU hotel workers who are receiving pension payment from the fund.
There are 60 people who retired from an ILWU hotel and returned to the Philippines to live.
One purpose of the trip is to make sure that pension payments are actually going to the right person. In the past, there have been cases when a retiree died and the family continued to collect the monthly pension payments. To prevent this, the team will meet with the retirees to confirm their identities. The team will also assist the retirees with other problems, such as filing taxes and Social Security benefit concerns.
This year, Local 142 President Fred Galdones was part of the team and spent 10 days in the Philippines, traveling to cities and barrios to meet with retired ILWU hotel workers. “It was tough work—hot, dusty, and many hours on the road. We rented a bus and lived out of suitcases for days at a time.”
The first half of the trip involved making actual home visits to twelve retirees who did not attend any scheduled meeting during the previous two Philippines trips. The team was successful in meeting with eleven of the twelve retirees. One of the twelve retirees was visiting family on Maui and the Trust Fund Office was able to contact her.
“When we got to the barrios, we could always tell which house belonged to the retirees. The dollar goes a long way in the Philippines and this allows ILWU retirees and their families to have a better life,” Fred observed.
ILWU President Fred Galdones (back row, right) meets with former ILWU Maui Division Director Roger Tacdol (front row, second from left) and Roger’s family during the trip.
On the second half of the trip, the team met with retirees at the following scheduled meetings:
Cebu: February 22, 2005 at Sangri-La Mactan Island; Manila: February 28, 2005 at Manila Peninsula; Laoag City: March 2, 2005 at the Fort Ilocandia Hotel; Dagupan City: March 4, 2005 at the Leisure Coast Resort.
The oldest living retiree, former Mauna Kea Resort employee Ms. Chiyoko Miura, will be 99 years old [ ] in June 2005. ◆
Ms. Chiyoko Miura is the ILWU’s oldest living retiree in the Philippines, and will be 99 years old in June 2005.
Maui Division Unit Awards
Maui honors 2004 outstanding units and rank-and-file
WAILUKU—The Maui Division recognition awards for 2004 were presented at its regular Division Executive Board (DEB) meeting held on Wednesday, February 16, 2005. Maui full-time officers made their nominations based on attendance at meetings and participation in union programs.
2004’s Outstanding Unit Awards went to Unit 2107 - Maui County Employees Federal Credit Union (1-100 members); Unit 2406 - Ameron and Unit 2406 Hawaiian Cement (tie, 101-300 members); Unit 2306 - Maui Pineapple Company (Cannery) (301-500 members) and Unit 2509 - Lanai Resorts (501 or more members).
Individual awards were also presented. “Recognition of Unit Chairperson” awards were given to Shawn Atacador of Unit 2509 - Lanai Resorts and Abel Kahoohanohano of Unit 2406 - Ameron.
Delilah Salcedo of Unit 2505 - The Westin Maui, Zenaida Andaya of Unit 2101 - HC&S Company, Martin Jenson of Unit 2306 - Maui Pineapple Company (Cannery), and Jason Medeiros of Unit 2520 - Grand Wailea Resort & Spa all received the “Recognition of Unit Leadership” award.
“Recognition of Unit Member” awards were given to Linda Fernandez of Unit 2509 - Lanai Resorts, Ruby Yoshisato of Unit 2306 - Maui Pineapple Company (Cannery), Stephen West of Unit 2511 - Maui Prince Hotel and Michael Bunyard of Unit 2505 - The Westin Maui.
Retiree honorees for 2004 were Mae Pung and Bennenido Archangel.
Maui Unit Bulletin Editors were recognized at the April 20, 2005 DEB meeting. 2004 Outstanding editors were Robert Zahl of Unit 2101 - HC&S Co. (first place) and Mary Kay HofMann of Unit 2306 - Maui Pineapple Company (Cannery). ◆
Unit 2509 officer Shawn Atacador with Division Director william Kennison. Atacador received a “Recognition of Unit Chairperson” award. Her unit was also singled out as outstanding unit with 501 or more members.
Division Clerk Joycelyn Victorino with Abel Kahoohanohano, recipient of a “Recognition of Unit Chairperson” award. Kahoohanohano’s Unit, Ameron, also received an award for outstanding unit with 101 - 300 members (tied with Hawaiian Cement).
Business Agent Delbert DeRego, Ruby Yoshisato of Maui Pineapple Co. and Kennison. Yoshisato received one of four “Recognition of Unit Member” awards for 2004. She retires in 2005 after 55 years of service to Maui Pine and the ILWU.