November / December
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OF November/December 2014 VOICE THE ILWU page 1 HAWAII Volume 54 • No. 6 The VOICE of the ILWU—Published by Local 142, International Longshore & Warehouse Union November/December 2014 ADDR E Hawaii elects Democrats, SS L A B union-endorsed candidates EL ILWU-endorsed candidates did the state seemed to be shifting its way. election. In the 1st Congressional District In the governor’s race, public opinion race, early polls showed Republican very well in Hawaii’s General polls showed Republican Duke Aiona and Charles Djou ahead of Mark Takai. Election on November 4, 2014, Democrat David Ige in a dead heat right Both Hawaii’s gubernatorial and 1st after the August 9, 2014 Hawaii primary —continued on page 6 winning a strong majority of all races run statewide—including the closely watched gubernatorial and congressional contests. “I think the ILWU’s Political Action (PAC) program was effective in mobilizing our members and delivering votes to endorsed candidates,” said Oahu Division PAC Coordinator and Business Agent Wilfred Chang. Out of 52 ILWU-endorsed candidates in statewide races and in the state legislature, Above: Unit 1518 - Hapuna Beach 46 won their elections. In county races, 16 Prince Hotel members sign-waving out of 22 ILWU-endorsed candidates were for Team Ige/Tsutsui in Kamuela, with elected. Hawaii Division PAC Chair Frankie Pang on the far right. Above right: A Republican upset? The Maui ILWU Pensioner Club and The Hawaii Republican Party had other pensioners preparing campaign high hopes this year, and the mood of material for a canvass. Right: Kauai officers and family with David Ige. On the Inside New contract in place at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa Maui Pine pensions, valuable land resources protected .......... 2 KAANAPALI—Over 500 ILWU with no member co-payment. (Bell). Full-time officers on the negotiating members at The Westin Maui Resort & Additional gains included stronger committee were Local President and ILWU Hotel Guide .......................3-6 Spa are now covered by a new five-year language to several sections in the contract committee spokesperson Donna Domingo contract. which addresses meals & meal periods, and Maui Division Representative Steven Maui takes state softball ..........7 & 8 Chief Union Spokesperson Donna reimbursement for a required trade Lee. Oahu bowling league wraps up ..... 8 Domingo says the settlement calls for a license, a vacation donation program, 11% wage increase over the duration of and observing Independence Day on the the agreement, to be paid out in increments calendar day. of 1.5% effective July 1, 2015, 1.25% The ratification was held August 14–15, Best wishes to all ILWU members and their families effective July 1, 2016, 1.25% effective 2014 and the Memorandum of Agreement January 1, 2017, 1.25% effective July 1, (MOA) was approved overwhelmingly. 2017, 1.25% effective January 1, 2018, Unit Secretary Alex Ajolo said, “The for peace, prosperity, and progress 1.25% effective July 1, 2018, 1.25% negotiations went really well and very effective January 1, 2019 and 2.0% smooth.” Division Representative Steven in the coming year. effective June 30, 2019. Lee added, “It took eight days over a The union made substantial improve- three-month period to come to a tentative ments in work conditions. There were agreement.” gains in virtually every department The Westin Maui Resort & Spa is with the biggest gain happening in the located next to Whalers Village with direct housekeeping department. Daily room access to Kaanapali Beach. All 759 rooms quotas were reduced by applying room come with private balconies allowing credits for check-out rooms, multiple spectacular views of the mountain, the floors and multiple towers. islands of Lanai and Molokai, and the Other improvements include a Pacific Ocean. The centerpiece of the substantial increase in the contributions to resort is its 87,000 square-foot water the pension plan, increases in premiums complex with five interconnected pools, and special rates in several departments spa tubs, waterfalls, and a 128-foot water which include Bell/Valet, Maintenance, slide. Housekeeping, and Food and Beverage, Rank-and-file members of the increase in the amount of Group Life negotiating committee were: Chair Insurance coverage, and increases in Michael Bunyard (BOT Bartender), 1st separation allowance. This is a benefit that Vice Chair Lolohea Kava (Front Desk), most non-union workplaces don’t have. Treasurer Lourdes Rivera (Culinary), Our members will be enjoying medical Secretary Alex Ajolo (Food & Beverage), and dental coverage through the ILWU Editor Seini Dennis (Front Desk), Local 142 Health and Welfare Trust. The Adeline Castillo (Housekeeping), Michael —from the Officers and Staff of ILWU Local 142 company will pay the monthly premiums Clarkson (Banquet), and Chris Larson The next Local 142 Executive Board (LEB) meeting is scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. on March 13, 2015, in Honolulu at the ILWU building on 451 Atkinson Drive. ILWU members are welcome to attend as observers. OF page 2 VOICE THE ILWU November/December 2014 Maui Land & Pineapple retirees celebrate Lipoa Point Day WAILUKU—Acting Governor Shan Tsutsui signed a proclamation declaring October 9, 2014 as “Lipoa Point Day” before a crowd of Maui Land & Pineapple Co. retirees, community members, and elected officials at the ILWU Union Hall in Wailuku. The proclamation signaled the successful sale of about 280 coastal acres of land by Maui Land & Pineapple Co. Inc. (ML&P) to the State of Hawaii for $19.5 million. Proceeds from the sale will fund ML&P’s pension plan—which covers 1,600 retirees, a thousand of whom were ILWU members—and state acquisition of the property will protect the land from development and preserve the area as a cultural and natural resource. ML&P financial struggles and pension shortfall ML&P suffered significant financial losses during the recession of 2007–2009. According to ML&P Chairman and CEO Warren Haruki, the company faced potential bankruptcy due to a downturn Some of the 1,600 ML&P pensioners who no longer have to worry about receiving full pension benefits, with elected officials, ILWU members and leaders, and (seated) acting Governor Tsutsui, who displays the “Lipoa Point Day” in the real estate market, coupled with proclamation signed on October 9, 2014. a change in Maui Pineapple Company’s operations from canning to fresh fruit agency that protects pension benefits in Resources] explore options to protect and In June 2013, Governor Neil Abercrombie production. ML&P decided to restructure private-sector, defined benefit plans like preserve [Lipoa Point’s] pristine condition, signed the bill into a law (Act 241) that its business model, shutting down Maui the one at ML&P. The PBGC required while ensuring the adequate capitalization directed the state Department of Land and Pineapple Company and leasing its ML&P to secure the pension fund shortfall of the pension fund against which the Natural Resources to acquire Lipoa Point. upcountry lands to the newly formed with 8,400 acres of land assets, including parcel was pledged.” “Our retired ILWU members are Haliimaile Pineapple Company. HB 1421 passed with the help of many Lipoa Point. extremely pleased that their pension plans In spite of restructuring, by the end of In 2013, Maui Representatives Angus lawmakers, particularly with the strong have been funded,” ILWU President Donna September 2013 ML&P had unfunded McKelvey, Mele Carroll, Kaniela Ing, support of Souki, McKelvey, Woodson, Domingo said. “As anyone can imagine, pension liabilities of $24.2 million. This Justin Woodson, Kyle Yamashita, and and Senators Roz Baker and Gil Keith- funding shortfall caused the Pension Speaker Joe Souki introduced House Bill Agaran. Baker described the deal as our members looked forward to having Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC) to 1424 with two main purposes. As stated “win-win” because the land is being financial security in their golden years after become involved in overseeing ML&P’s by the bill, “It is the legislature's intent preserved and ML&P’s pension fund is dedicating their lives to the company for pension plan. The PBGC is a federal that the department [of Land and Natural protected. many years.” Harriet Bouslog Labor Scholarship awardees gather to compare notes HONOLULU—The Second Annual the John A. Burns School of Medicine in of the University of Hawaii System, on Scholarship awards per semester are: Harriet Bouslog Labor Scholarship Fund November. a full-time basis, you should apply for $2000 for UH-Manoa, $1000 for UH- (HBLSF) Open House was hosted by the 2015 scholarships. Hilo or UH-West Oahu, and $750 for President Mark D. Bernstein on September Application period is open • Up to 10 scholarships are awarded each UH community colleges. Awardees are 27, 2014 to recognize 2014 graduates, Applications are being accepted year. eligible for up to eight semesters of tuition HBLSF awardees and their families, and November 1, 2014–March 1, 2015. All applicants are required to videotape assistance. With the cost of education at to renew old acquaintances and make new • If you have a child or grandchild who an interview with his or her family UH going up, the scholarship is a good ones. is a high school senior this year and member who is or was an ILWU Local way to support a college education. Student attendees included: Kaai Conradt plan to attend any of the University 142 member and write an essay about Brochures and application forms are from Oahu, who is an undergraduate at of Hawaii (UH) campuses, including what they learned from the interview available at any ILWU Local 142 office Honolulu Community College (HCC), UH- the community colleges, you should and what the role of ILWU Local 142 or on the ILWU Local 142 website www.