Oahu Division Director
Dave Mori
In the last three years our Union continued to achieve great accomplishments. We received national recognition for spearheading two landmark decisions—the passage of the “card-check” bill, which allows Hawaii agriculture workers a fairer way to join a union and get a first contract, and the favorable ruling on 15 unfair labor practice charges against Pacific Beach Hotel, in which a federal judge ordered the reinstatement of union supporters with back pay, and the reimbursement of negotiation costs to the Union. But much more work lies ahead of us if we are to continue bettering our members’ standard of living and our children’s future. We need to be ever more aggressive in organizing, and in repealing bad laws that prevent us from organizing. More volunteers are needed in political action to help elect politicians who will stand up for the average worker and not cower to the pressures of big business or special interest groups. Our Union was built on the hard work of its members. Without your help we could not have accomplished so much. For all of you who have supported me in the past, thank you very much—you truly made a difference.
Business Agent
Shane Ambrose
Over the next three years I want to continue working with the members and the rest of the Full Time Officers and Staff to better serve you.
With the new changes in assignments, new challenges and opportunities will arise that will surely test our resolve. With your involvement I am confident that despite the recent economic challenges our solidarity will ensure that our Union continues to endure.
As we enter this critical triennium it is important that we all pull together to do our part to organize the unorganized to ensure that future generations have the rights we hold dear today. I urge all members and their families to educate their friends and neighbors that we all have a voice and that we all can make a difference.
Business Agent
Brian Tanaka
We must follow the union program, which includes strengthening existing units, training and bringing along new leadership, organizing new members, and keeping our union and collective bargaining agreements strong.
We have already begun work to increase our members in the growing health care industry. We are accreting members where we can, and also negotiating the best possible contracts for all ILWU healthcare workers.
I am also encouraging rank-andfile participation in the education programs of the union, including getting leadership and steward training. Part of our education program includes the production of a Business Agent report that can be shared by all units that do not have their own news bulletins.
There is a place for every member in the ILWU—working side by side to make our jobs and lives better.
Business Agent
Karl Lindo
My goal for the next three years is to continue representing and protecting our members rights on the job. I also believe in educating the rank and file leadership and members on the importance of being involved in the union. This simply means members exercising their union rights, policing the contract, and participating in union programs. With member participation and involvement, we can make a difference together in providing workers with good jobs, protecting important benefits, and being respected on the job.
The past three years have been tough for all of our members, many have lost jobs or wages and benefits have been affected due to the economy.
As a Business Agent, having the support of unit leadership and members is what enables us to do our job more effectively. Your support makes the union strong.
Business Agent
Michael Yamaguchi
I am thankful to the Oahu rank and file who had the confidence to elect me as a business agent for the next three years. I promise to work hard and represent you to the best of my ability. Organizing workers who have no union representation needs to be a priority of the ILWU. We need new members to build union density so we can negotiate from a position of strength. The union must also continue to obtain political clout which the ILWU is well known for. I would like to mobilize existing units, motivate members and build a strong architecture of leaders. We need to educate the rank and file, and enforce our collective bargaining agreements. Your full-time officers and union representatives are not the union. WE ARE ALL THE UNION. Without the efforts of everyone, the ILWU cannot succeed.
Business Agent
Larry Ruiz
I have three basic goals for this term: to strengthen the union by getting more members to be active participants in union programs, to strengthen our contracts through negotiations and a strong steward system, and to strengthen labor’s position in politics through our Political Action Program. The first is important because the ILWU is a highly democratic union, and democracy does not work without participation. If more members play an active role in the union—even a small one—the overall function of the union will improve. The second goal is based on the fact that our union contracts are a huge factor in the quality of life of our families. We need to fight for the improvements we need and fight against takeaways. Finally, even with a strong contract, we would be lost without laws that protect the rights of working people. Even the right to belong to a union is determined by law. If we do not elect lawmakers who understand and support working families, our whole community will suffer.
Division Clerk
Lisa Maehara
