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The next Local 142 Executive Board (LEB) meeting will be at 9:00 a.m. on December 16, 2022 at the Honolulu ILWU Hall at 451 Atkinson Drive. ILWU members are welcome to attend as observers. Lanai's Labor Day Celebration at the Lanai ILWU Hall on September 3, 2022 was also very well-attended by politicians. The Maui County races are competitive, but our endorsed candidates can count on labor's votes because they have proven that they listen to and try to address the needs and concerns of ILWU members. Marino Barsatan Unit Treasurer Unit 2404 Pulama Lanai, Vice Chair Johnny Olbinado, Local Secretary-Treasurer Michael Victorino, Jr., John Pele (endorsed candidate for Molokai seat on Maui County Council), Michael Victorino (endorsed candidate for Maui Mayor), Nohe U'u Hodgins (endorsed candidate for Makawao-Haiku-Paia seat on Maui County Council), Unit Chair Generoso "Jimmy" Fernandez, Riki Hokama (endorsed candidate for Lanai seat on Maui County Council), Local President Christian West, Marlene Baltero Unit 2509 Four Seasons Resort Secretary, Adela Olbinado Unit 2nd Vice Chair at Unit 2509; back row: Business Agent Stephen West.
On Juneteenth weekend, more than 70 rank-and-file ILWU members joined with 4,000 other labor activists at the Labor Notes conference in Chicago. The event featured speakers, workshops, trainings, and opportunities for union members and activists to share tactics, strategies, and build the relationships that are central to strengthening the labor movement.
New York Times labor reporter Noam Scheiber characterized the conference as "the epicenter of the U.S. labor movement."
Union building
The conference served as an important networking and union- building opportunity for members to build lasting relationships across regions and divisions of the ILWU, said Local 23 member Brian Skiffington. "Having been to Labor Notes once before, for me this trip was less about the conference and more about the connections we are building with workers in our union," Skiffington said. "Seeing new friendships develop between Canadians, So Cal, Alaskans, and warehouse workers - it's the glue that binds the union together." Alaska Longshore Division Vice President Jeff Hancock added, "This was a great opportunity for our people to come together and bond with other members they wouldn't normally get to meet. Events like this are where we build the networks and lifelong friendships that are so important to the strength of our union."
"I felt a deep sense of camaraderie with everyone, especially my fellow ILWU folks," added Local 23 B-woman, Tianna Kelly. "This trip was extremely impactful and humanized everyone in a way that I haven't experienced with my work peers prior. I feel less apathetic, more inspired, and genuinely overjoyed with the friendships that I've built in my union. I feel more supported than ever and more able to extend trust and support to others."
Making connections, opening eyes
ILWU members also were able to meet workers from other unions and learn from each other's experiences. Union activists from all over the country were eager to hear about the democratic traditions of the ILWU, while new ILWU members had the chance to learn first-hand about the labor movement through the eyes of workers who are struggling to form their first union or win a first contract. Others said that the energy and enthusiasm helped them to refocus and rekindle commitments to building the labor movement. "My eyes were opened to the struggles other workers face in their fights for creating and strengthening their unions," said Local 23 B-man Nicalo Elverston. "Even though many of us in the ILWU came into an already established and strong union, we can't take what we have for granted. The fight has been brought to us in recent years and I have to prepare myself and other young workers for what may come."
"This experience gave me more knowledge of unions, the labor movement, and solidarity," added Local 63 OCU member Jamie Bulaich. "This was a touchstone to bring me back to what is important. We are so wrapped up in our daily lives on the job that can we lose sight of the fact that we are a part of something massive and profound. Going to Labor Notes re-awakens that awareness within you."
Workers on the move
This year's sold-out conference
was the largest Labor Notes
event ever. The record-setting
turnout comes in the context of a
resurgence in labor organizing as a
Front row: Left to right Zack Pattin, Local 23; Brian Skiffington, Local 23, Back row (left to right) Alison Steichen, Local 19; Tove Holmberg, Local 5; Amazon Labor Union President Christian Smalls; Michelle Carroll, Local 5; Arthur "AJ" Valenzuela, Local 46 Chelsea Reissler, Local 19
new generation of workers turns to collective action in response to an economy that has failed to produce jobs that meet their economic needs and fulfill their expectations. Recent data from the National Labor Relations Board shows that between October 2021 and March of this year, there was a 57 percent increase in union representation petitions compared to the previous
year.
In addition to this year's record- setting attendance, the conference was notably younger than previous years, noted Local 63 OCU President John Fageaux, who has been attending Labor Notes for the past 12 years.
"This has been the biggest crowd I've seen," Fageaux said. "The crowd was extremely progressive, young, energized, and militant - all of the things you want to see. The labor movement is alive and well, and I believe we are finally going to see some growth after decades of slow decline."
Centering workers
The conference featured high-profile speakers and presenters throughout the weekend, including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, newly elected Teamsters President Sean O'Brien, International President of the Association of Flight Atten- dants-CWA Sara Nelson, and Stacy Davis Gates, the new President of the Chicago Teachers Union. But the real stars of the weekend were the rank-and-file activists who are organizing their workplaces and a building strong democratic labor
movement.
Amazon Labor Union (ALU) President Christian Smalls, who helped build the first successful organizing drive at an Amazon warehouse, inspired many workers at the conference. Smalls is emerging as a symbol for a militant, young labor movement that is confronting 21st Century corporate titans like Amazon and Starbucks. Grove said she was impressed with Smalls. "I had the opportunity to speak to Mr. Smalls," Grove said. "He's a fantastic young man that is leading a new set of workers. I like the way that he is thinking. I like the fact that he wasn't about himself, but that he is trying to move a group of workers forward. What the Amazon Labor Union is doing is going to be for the betterment of every worker in the supply chain."
Longshore Unity
Another highlight of the conference was a breakout session for longshore workers that was attended by members of ILWU and the International Longshoremen's Association. The room was filled to capacity. "I think there were about 90 of us there," Grove said. "We got to talking about the differences and similarities between the ILWU and the ILA. It gave rank-and-filers from both unions a chance to sit down and talk and created a bond between us. If we strengthen that bond, how much stronger could we be?"
This article has been edited for length. To read it in its entirety, please go to www.ilwu.org
HONOLULU - Education never stops at ILWU, even for our Full-Time Officers. The sign of a good leader is someone who never stops learning, and 25 of our Full-Time Officers (Titled Officers, Division Directors and Business Agents), whether they were just elected to office or a seasoned veteran in union leadership service, attended the ILWU Honolulu Hall from September 12-16, 2022 for a rigorous week of learning. The last time a Full-Time Officer (FTO) Conference was held was in 2014.
Jam-packed agenda
The week-long curriculum got off to an inspiring start on Monday with Ka'ala Souza who taught leadership skills rooted in Hawaiian values.
The following afternoon,
Dale Yashiki from the National Labor Relations Board gave a presentation. She and fellow NLRB lawyer Scott Hovey were impressed by the FTO delegation. Yashiki said, "We didn't even get past the first slide of our presentation, and all of you are already asking so many great questions!"
The rest of the week centered on a curriculum given by Eve Weinbaum, Gordon Lafer, Ilima Long, Craig Howe and Michelle Tran.
Please see the next issue of the Voice for more in-depth coverage of what we learned!
Front: Local Secretary-Treasurer Michael Victorino, Jr., Kauai Business Agent (BA) Chad Pacheco, Oahu BA Corin Kekua. Second row: Kauai Division Director Rhonda Morris, Maui BA John Simpliciano, Hawaii BA Dylan Gaspar, Hawaii BA Tristie Licoan, Maui PAC Chair Lei Sato, Maui BA Emmanuel Baltazar, Organizer Colleen Antonio, Maui Division Director Roberto Andrion. Third row: Hawaii BA Roselyn Molina, Hawaii BA Jennifer Yadao, Maui BA Charles Andrion, Eve Weinbaum, Amazon Labor Union President Chris Smalls, Local President Chris West, Maui BA Ronald Siliado, Oahu BA Dillon Hullinger, Hawaii Division Director Elmer Gorospe. Back row: Kauai BA Daniel La'a, Maui BA Cyrus Kodani, Hawaii BA Michael Dela Cruz, Benton Rodden, Gordon Lafer, Oahu BA Dural Duenas, Oahu BA Paris Fernandez, Maui BA Stephen West.
Local 142 hosted LaborFest Hawai'i's event "Organize Hawai'i" with special guest Chris Smalls a little over halfway into the FTO Conference on Thursday, September 15, 2022. District 46 (Wahia- wa) Representative Amy Perruso; Kalani Werner, State Director of United Public Workers; Eric Gill, Financial Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE! Local 5; Michael Victorino, Jr., ILWU Local 142 Sec- retary-Treasurer, Kawena'ulaokala Kapahua, Chair of Academic Labor United, Chris Smalls, Presi- dent of the Amazon Labor Union all made for a dynamic group on the panel that was taped and streamed live. Go to our ILWU Local 142 Hawaii page to catch the replay!
