Unit 1413 - Big Island Toyota accepting their award for Outstanding Unit (1-29 members). Front (l-r): Jordan Matsuno, Cody Baptista, Unit Chair Gregory Wagner, Jr., Lawrence Cabral, Rose Bautista (Mayor Harry Kim’s representative, Business Agent George Martin. Back (l-r): Casey Shinshiro, Business Agent Michael Dela Cruz, and Hawaii Division Director Elmer Gorospe, Sr.
Unit 1402 - Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp accepting their award for Outstanding Unit, 100 members and over (General Trades). Front row, l-r: Marilou Akamine, Adele Aguinaldo, Unit Secretary Jeanne Yoshizawa, Celina Zuniga, Felomina Alonzo. 2nd row, l-r: Delia Prado, Jocelyn Ucol, Remedios R Gani, Unit Treasurer Sonia Tejada, Anabelle Shimasaki, Wilma Ventura, Unit Chair Melecio Eugenio, Jr., Mayor Harry Kim’s representative Rose Bautista, Fermina Dalmacio, Elvira Alonzo, Josephine Chow Hoy, Myrna Valdez. 3rd row, l-r on stage: Division Director Elmer C. Gorospe, Sr., Business Agent Delbert DeRego, and Unit 1st Vice Chairperson Mercedes Habab.
Hawaii Division hosts 40th annual recognition awards
HILO—“Welcome. You belong to the greatest organization in the islands,” said emcee Clyde Silva, greeting over 160 members, pensioners, and their families at Nani Mau Gardens. Hawaii Division’s 40th Annual Recognition Awards Banquet was held on February 4, 2017
Hawaii Division started these recognition nights back in 1978 as a way to honor the efforts of the members, units and pensioners. The event has a reputation for its robust attendance and this year’s gathering was no exception, proving that the union’s proudest asset is its membership
proudest asset is its membership. “We use recognition night as an additional boost of support. It says we recognize our members’ efforts and that we hope they continue doing what they’re doing,” said Hawaii Division Director Elmer Gorospe, Sr. “We know what it takes for the members to take initiative within their unit and that makes the union strong.”
“At every union meeting we make sure to eat together,” said Gregory Wagner, Jr., Unit Chair for Big Island Toyota. “It helps us all get along better,” he said laughing. “And that can only help us go places as a unit.”
as a unit.” Big Island Toyota won the award for Outstanding Unit, 1-29 members. The other units recognized (see box at left) also had members in high attendance, and filled tables with their families and significant others. Awardees were decided based on criteria such as: how active the units were in conducting regular meetings, following up on grievances and political action. All the efforts in these areas matter, and are worthy of acknowledgment and celebration.
Union values create proud legacy
“2016 was another successful year for Hawaii Division,” said Gorospe in his speech. “We continue to negotiate to benefit our membership. Collective bargaining is a key component of the ILWU’s program, and we look to improve on the union contracts that benefit our union membership.” Bargaining requires teamwork and solidarity within a unit; the members commit to these values and it translates to success in negotiations.
The ILWU is proud to have members from the past, and the present, who continue to take these values seriously. “You don’t know how often when I’m at the legislature, even young representatives will tell me things like, ‘Oh, my grandfather worked at Waialua Sugar.’ Or, ‘Oh, my family on Maui comes from a sugar family or pineapple family,’” said Secretary-Treasurer Guy Fujimura. “They understand that the fundamental basis of the ILWU is the fundamental basis on which progress in Hawaii was made. And they want that connection to it,” Fujimura said.
The union as family
Division Director Gorospe’s speech also highlighted the pensioners as another key component of the ILWU’s strength. Members from seven of the eight pensioner clubs on the Big Island were in the audience, and he pointed out certain pensioners like Gilbert DeMotta who “like many ILWU pensioners, made a commitment to the ILWU long ago, and they have been loyal and dependable all these years.”
The ILWU inspires this kind of loyalty because of the bonds members form with each other and to a cause larger than themselves as individuals. “In spite of the challenges that we face, economically, organizationally and in our nation, this union, your union, is going to do its job,” said Secretary-Treasurer Guy Fujimura in his speech. “We will provide leadership the support needed, for those leaders that step forward and take a chance, and stand up. We’re going to support them and in order to do that we depend on you. The members, retirees, pensioners, and families. Because all of us together have proven historically, that that’s what makes this work. All of us sticking together. What does ILWU mean? I. Live. With. yoU! We’re all one family.”
As in any family, there are many generations. The range of generations in attendance served as a testament to the strength of the union and the power of togetherness. To celebrate the rousing camaraderie from the speeches, members hit the dance floor for the Electric Slide and other songs performed by the band Makanau. There was so much to celebrate, from the ones being recognized with awards to the solidarity felt amongst everyone that night.
Members of the Pepeekeo Pension Club with Edith Tumpap of the Papaikou Pension Club. Sitting (l-r): Norma Felipe, Aurora Arau, President Barbara Hanog, Leonor Corpuz, Harumi Koga. Standing (l-r): Tumpap and Secretary Flora Reyes. Pepeekeo had the most new members out of eight different Pension Clubs on the Big Island. Members from Pahala, Hilo, Papaikou, Hakalau, Laupahoehoe, and Kona Pensioners Club also attended the banquet.
Unit 1516 - Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows members present their 1st Vice Chairperson Myra Spencer (center) with an award to thank her for her many years of service to the union. (L-r) Tina Lukzen, Spencer, and Unit Chairperson LeeAnn Perez. “She’s my sunshine,” Perez said. “She taught me everything I know.” Spencer, who is retiring this year, expressed surprise at receiving the award. “I didn’t know what a union was until the ILWU. But in the ILWU, I learned how to fight for what was right, how to interpret the contract, and how the pieces work together.”