As a member of the ILWU Local 142, you are part of a long and proud tradition where workers join or form organizations for their mutual benefit and to promote fairness and justice on the job. These organizations are called unions.

In Hawaii one out of every four workers are members of a labor union. There are 21,000 ILWU members on all major islands in Hawaii, which make the ILWU one of the largest unions in the state. ILWU members work in every major industry including: tourism, longshore, sugar, pineapple, manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare.

• Negotiates and Administers the union contract. We know the value of the union contract, but where does the contract come from? Who negotiates the contract? When is your next contract opening? Who arranges the meetings with management? Who takes care of the paperwork?

The union organization is the source of the contract. Months before the contract expires, the union calls membership meetings to draft proposals. Unit members are chosen to be on the union negotiating committee. The union provides the negotiator, meeting rooms, administrative support to negotiate and maintain the contract. After negotiations, the union takes care of preparing the documents, printing, and distributing the contract to members.

• Enforces the terms of the contract on a daily basis. How many of you drive faster then the speed limit? What do you think would happen if there were no speed traps? People would break the law. It is the same with the union contract. Unless it is enforced, the company may choose to violate the terms of the contract.

The ILWU maintains a contract enforcement network—starting with on-the-job Stewards, Unit Officers, Business Agent, and Contract Administrator. The union provides training and backing from specialists on labor law, pension and medical plans, financial analysis, etc. 

• Ongoing bargaining and negotiations over terms and conditions of employment. Some parts of the contract have clear application—like overtime pay after 8 hours. Other parts of the contract are purposely open to more flexible application—like scheduling. Some parts of the contract gives you rights, but require you to exercise the right.

The contract and negotiations can’t account for everything that may happen. Business conditions may change; new jobs may be created; there may be a change in ownership. The union must often continue to negotiate even while the contract is in effect.

• Organization of workers that builds unity and collective strength. The union is an organization that enables workers to govern themselves and to build unity and collective strength. There is a defined structure, elected officers, and a democratic procedure for making decisions and policies such as the Convention and the Local, Division, and Unit Executive Boards. The union runs education programs for elected leaders and members.

The union newspaper and unit bulletins publicize and promote the work of the union. The union also organizes social activities for its members to build unity—such as sports, Labor Day Celebrations, and awards banquets. 

• Political voice for working families. The union protects the interests of its membership and promotes a Working Families Agenda at all levels of government—State, County, and US Congress. The legislative process is a form of negotiations which can have major impact on our jobs, lives, and standard of living. The union gets involved in government to negotiate the best terms for its membership. 

• Provides supporting services for all of these functions. Office and meeting rooms, administrative, technical, financial, legal, and professional support for these activities.

George Martin, International ILWU Vice President Emeritus

George Martin joined the ILWU in 1944 at the age of 19 when he got a job at the Onomea Sugar Company in Papaikou on the Big Island. Onomea later merged with the Hilo Sugar Company to become the Mauna Kea Sugar-Hilo Coast Processing Company Unit 1104.

He worked his way up in the company and became a heavy equipment mechanic. He was a key union leader in the ILWU’s 1946 sugar strike and served on the union’s strike strategy committee. In 1948, he was elected Hawaii Vice-President of the ILWU’s United Sugar Workers and served in that office from 1949 through 1952. At that time sugar, pineapple, longshore, and miscellaneous trades were separate ILWU locals.

In 1952, the separate ILWU industrial locals consolidated into one organization, ILWU Local 142. Brother Martin was elected as the ILWU Hawaii Division Director and managed the union’s office and directed the work of ILWU business agents on the Big Island. He was reelected to this important position for the next 19 years as the ILWU became a powerful economic and political force for Hawaii’s working people.

In 1971, Brother Martin was appointed to fill the unexpired term as International ILWU Vice-President and Director of Organization, a vacancy created by the untimely death of Jack Hall on January 2, 1971. The appointment required Brother Martin to move to San Francisco where the International ILWU had its headquarters. As Director of Organization, Brother Martin managed the International’s organizing program and assisted ILWU locals on the West Coast. Brother Martin brought with him the considerable experience of Hawaii’s Local 142 in new member organizing.

For the next 10 years, Brother Martin was re-elected International Vice-President until his decision to retire and return to Hawaii in 1983.

The International ILWU 25th Biennial Convention held in Portland, Oregon from April 11-16, 1983, honored Brother Martin by conferring on him the title of Vice-President Emeritus.

In Hawaii, Local 142 honored Brother Martin at its Convention held from September 19-23, 1983. The Hawaii Convention passed a resolution which recognized his contribution to the union and noted, “Brother Martin exemplifies the principles of democratic, rank and file unionism that the ILWU is known for; he has been involved with the ILWU for all of his adult working life.”

George Martin (right), Labor Day 1975.

Martin built a home in Honokaa, tried his hand at farming, and spent time with his grandchildren. He was active in the community and in the 1960s helped pave the way for the development of the University of Hawaii Hilo as a four-year college.

He remained in close contact with the ILWU and attended a number of International and Local 142 Conventions as a fraternal delegate. 

Brother Martin passed away on January 14, 2009. He is survived by his wife, Mary Dorothy; a son, Tom; daughters, Shirley Martin Breon, Loretta Matsumoto, and Susan Baker; and 10 grandchildren.