ILWU Endorses Mufi Hannemann for Governor
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OF March/April 2010 VOICE THE ILWU page 1 Volume 50 • No. 2 The VOICE of the ILWU—Published by Local 142, International Longshore & Warehouse Union March/April 2010 ADDRESS LABEL ILWU Local 142 President Isaac Fiesta, Jr. announced the union’s endorsement of Mufi Hannemann at a press conference on March 9, 2010. The ILWU’s statewide Political Action Committee made the decision to endorse Hannemann after meeting with both Mufi Hannemann and Neil Abercrombie on March 2, 2010. (L-r) Secretary- Treasurer Guy K. Fujimura, Mayor Mufi Hannemann, President Isaac Fiesta Jr., Vice President Donna Domingo. ILWU endorses Mufi Hannemann for governor ILWU Local 142 endorsed Mufi would be excellent governors and have decided to support Mufi Hannemann.” Karl Rhoads, Blake Oshiro, and Roy Hannemann for governor after the a lot to give to the people of Hawaii.” The ILWU also gave early endorse- Takumi. State Political Action Committee met “Our Political Action Committee, ments to Mayor Bernard Carvalho of The ILWU gave early support to US with both Hannemann and Neil Aber- which is made up of ILWU members Kauai and Mayor Charmaine Tavares Senator Daniel Inouye and US House crombie on March 2, 2010. from the four counties and the long- of Maui County. of Representative Mazie Hirono at an “It was a very difficult decision as shore industry, met with Neil and The union endorsed State Senators earlier meeting of the union’s Political both candidates are very good friends of Mufi on March 2, 2010. There was a Dwight Takamine, Les Ihara, Brian Action Committee in December 2009. the ILWU and have done a lot to help lot of discussion and debate among the Taniguchi, and Glen Wakai. Endorsed Most of the ILWU endorsements will working people,” Local 142 President members of the Committee. In the end, State House of Representatives include be made after the July 20 deadline for Isaac Fiesta Jr. said. “Both candidates the ILWU Political Action Committee Joseph Souki, Isaac Choy, Sylvia Luke, candidates to file nomination papers. The union’s political action committees will then interview candidates who request the union’s support. The Primary Election will be held on September 18, 2010. The last day to register to vote in the Primary Elec- tions is August 19. The General Election will be held on November 2, 2010. The last day to reg- ister to vote in the General Elections is October 4. The easiest way to vote is by mail. You can request an absentee ballot for Photos by George Waialeale both the Primary and General Elec- tions after July 20. You will receive Senator Daniel Inouye and State Senators Dwight Takamine, Russell Kokubun and Brian Taniguchi join Colleen a ballot by mail which you return by Hanabusa to wave signs on April 5. Members from the Hawaii Longshore Division also participated in the sign-waving. ILWU members in the 1st Congressional District are urged to vote for Hanabusa in the special election which will be mail. There’s no need to drive to the held by mail. Members should be receiving their ballots in early May. polling site and wait in line. Why Hanabusa is our best choice for Congress Colleen Hanabusa is running in and their families. She comes from a unions to make life better for work- Hanabusa congratulated the ILWU the special election to fill the vacancy working class background. She was ing families. for taking the lead in improving left by Neil Abercrombie in the 1st raised by her grandparents in the Hanabusa addressed the ILWU the lives of working people. “Every Congressional District of Hawaii. housing camps of the Waianae Plan- Local 142 Convention on September benefit the working people have come Also running for the seat are Ed tation on Oahu. Her grandfather was 17, 2009. She told the Convention to enjoy [are] tied to sacrifices which Case and Republican Charles Djou. the plantation fisherman and her delegates how the ILWU is where this Union has been front and center The ILWU and many labor unions mother’s father was the plantation’s the labor movement really started on. Even today, when you look at the are urging their members to support carpenter. effectively in Hawaii’s history. “Your legislation that’s being passed, the and vote for Colleen Hanabusa as Hanabusa shares many of the commitment to the support of fel- lobbying that’s being done, you folks the best and clear choice for working same concerns and believes in the low union members in their difficult are front and center. So I congratu- people of Hawaii. same principles as the ILWU. Hana- times…that the motto which has late each and every one of you and I Colleen Hanabusa, who is cur- busa does legal for our union and our been the foundation of the ILWU, ‘An thank each and every one of you.” rently serving as a senator in the longshore division. She understands injury to one is an injury to all’ really We need someone like Colleen Hawaii State Legislature, has con- that unions are the democratic voice means something when we are look- Hanabusa who shares our values and sistently stood on the side of workers of workers and she would work with ing at a situation like we are today.” will work for us in Washington D.C. Congressional Dist. 1 Special Election: Vote and return your ballot before May 22. OF page 2 VOICE THE ILWU March/April 2010 Sluggish recovery for 2010, faster in 2011 forecast of the University of Hawai’i Economic Research Organization will still show a net decline, masking growth compared with the roughly 4% The University of Hawaii Economic Research these early gains. average during the 2004-2005 period. Organization (UHERO) collects and analyses • The private sector job turnaround • This report marks the first time does not mean a quick rebound from we are releasing UHERO forecasts for economic data for the State of Hawaii. The following the steep losses incurred over the Hawaii real Gross Domestic Product past two years. And additional public (GDP). Using a somewhat different is their latest forecast on March 26, 2010. sector job losses are likely. The ag- methodology than that of the Federal Hawaii’s economic recovery has stronger than the domestic market. gregate non-farm job count will show government, UHERO estimates that begun. Employment is stabilizing, We continue to expect a very attenu- a small 0.7% net loss for 2010 as a Hawaii real GDP was down 0.4% in and many sectors will begin to add ated recovery over the next several whole, and we see only a 0.9% gain 2009 after contracting 1.3% in 2008. modest numbers of jobs as the year years. Discounting will continue to be in 2011. This pace of job creation will Real GDP will fall a slight 0.2% in progresses. Visitor arrivals and the norm, continuing to exert down- leave the unemployment rate high for 2010, before expanding by roughly spending will continue to firm along ward pressure on profits. an extended time period. We expect 0.5% in 2011. with economic conditions in our major • Quarterly UHERO forecast re- statewide unemployment to average • While the past year has brought tourism markets. Private construction ports now include forecast figures for 6.9% this year, edging down to 6.4% the anticipated business cycle is bottoming out, and the sector will major construction industry indica- in 2011. turning point, there have been no begin to see more benefit from Fed- tors. The sector contracted sharply • As we had anticipated last March, developments that would warrant a eral and State spending programs. in 2009, but the pace of job losses Honolulu inflation decelerated to just substantially stronger forecast path. While growth is resuming, the pace of had slowed by year end and build- half a percent last year, with lower oil World growth appears sufficiently recovery will be slow, constrained by ing permits flattened out. Stirrings prices and moderating shelter costs strong to support only a slow pace of tepid U.S. consumer spending and the of private sector recovery and the causing a sharp cooling compared Hawaii recovery for now, and there is drag from the State and local fiscal short-term impulse from government with 2008. Because there will be con- a downside risk that premature fiscal conditions. As a result, unemploy- contracts will lead to net hiring in siderable slack in the local economy contraction in the U.S. and Europe ment will recede only gradually from coming months. Overall construction for the next several years, we expect could further weaken global economic current high levels. spending will be 17% lower this year relatively low inflation to be the norm conditions. The biggest downside risk than in 2009, but will rise more than in the Islands in coming years. After for Hawaii is the State budget crisis, Visitor industry in slump; slight 4% in 2011. energy costs cause inflation to tick up where we are only now feeling the full increase in arrivals • Job losses last year were severe. to 1.9% this year, the Honolulu CPI impact of job losses and furloughs/ • While the visitor industry re- The stabilization of recent months will show just 1.1% inflation in 2011. pay cuts. Luckily, the revenue picture mains in a deep slump, arrivals sets the stage for a resumption of • Real personal income has not already appears healthier than what numbers edged up slightly over the modest job growth in 2010. Some sec- seen the same sharp drop as jobs, is reflected in the Council on Reve- course of 2009 and visitor spending tors have already seen an uptick in partly because of the surge in un- nues projections, and so the drag from stabilized by year end.