Longshore

Hawaii longshore employers and the union are involved in an unique, cooperative effort to educate workers and help prevent the spread and use of crystal meth (also known as ICE). ICE is a very addictive form of methampetamine which has been crystallized and is smokeable. ICE is a growing and serious problem in Hawaii.

Hawaii’s longshore division, Local 142 and the employers will help fund part two of a documentary on ICE by film maker Edgy Lee. Lee will also produce a shorter video program tailored to longshore workers, which will be used to educate them about the dangers of ICE. The program is long-term and focuses on reducing the demand for ICE by education and prevention. ◆

Tourism

Thanks to the efforts of ILWU Hawaii Regional Office and our organizing department, the union was successful in getting a recognition and a 4-year contract at the new Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa on the Big Island. This hotel is the former ILWU Kona Surf Resort which closed down and was sold when its owners, Otaka, went bankrupt. (see Organizing, page 2)

Negotiations have concluded for most of the major hotels on the Big Island—the Hilton Waikoloa, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, Mauna Kea Beach, the Fairmont Orchid, and the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel.

The Health and Welfare Trust Fund is up and running. The Hyatt Maui and Hilton Waikoloa are in the fund and the Hyatt
Kauai is expected to join soon. The trustees on the union side are Wesley Furtado, Guy Fujimura, and Joe Franco Jr. Management trustees are from the Hyatt Maui, Hyatt Kauai, and Hilton Waikoloa.

The Renaissance Wailea Resort on Maui is planning to close in April 2005 for one year to renovate. About 240 ILWU members will be affected. ◆

Sugar

After April 2006, gas sold in Hawaii must be blended with ethanol. Gay & Robinson and some of its executives are moving ahead with plans to produce ethanol from sugar. G&R has been unable to get a long-term lease from the state on
Kekaha lands, so the plantation will not be replanting there after the crop is harvested.

HC&S factory has been working overtime and producing almost 40% more sugar than normal. This has allowed the plantation to catch up on its production which fell behind due to very wet and rainy weather earlier this year. ◆

Pineapple

Del Monte has assured the union that they intend to stay in Hawaii for the long-term. The company had sold some of its
equipment and was contracting out its pineapple hauling, which led many Del Monte members to believe the company was planning to shut down.

We met with Del Monte’s executives who explained that the equipment the company they sold was obsolete and the high cost of maintaining the trucks made it more cost effective to contract out the hauling.

Maui Land and Pineapple continues to phase down its cannery operations which will impact about 147 workers.

However, expansion of field and fresh fruit operations will require 150 workers. While some workers may not be able to make
the transition to field work, the cannery workers will have the opportunity to transfer to other jobs within the company. ◆

The Statewide pineapple negotiating committee settled three contracts this year: Dole Foods Co., Del Monte, and Maui Land and Pineapple. Co. The committee members are: (l-r, sitting) Avelino Martin, Robert Faborito, spokesperson and Local President Fred Galdones, committee chair Earl Totten, Darlene Palmerton, Martin Jenson, (l-r standing) Thomas Innis, Douglas Cabading, Boyd Isnec, Business Agent Teddy Espeleta, Cynthia Kaina, Eddie Amboya, Local Vice President Donna Domingo, Glenn Murayama, Marcelino Bonilla, Matt Rodrigues, and Business Agent Brandon Bajo-Daniel.

General Trades

Love’s Bakery members held their statewide caucus on October 7 and 8 band finalized their contract proposals on November 9, 2004 Their contract expires at the end of January 2005.

A new statewide contract was concluded with Sack N Save. Foodland is now in negotiations.

Schuman Carriage will permanently close its business at the end of November 2004. Potential buyers were unable to reach an agreement with Schuman on the sale of their assets. The company is family owned and operated and the family was no longer interested in continuing the business. About 47 members will lose their jobs in the shutdown. ◆

Schuman Carriage ILWU members meet as a unit for the last time to ratify a memorandum of agreement bargained over the effects of the closure of their workplace.