Hawaii Longshore Breakthrough Hawaii’S Basic Longshore and Wharf Clerk Members Six Weeks of Vacation
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OF September-October 2008 VOICETHE ILWU page 1 Volume 48 • No. 5 The VOICE of the ILWU—Published by Local 142, International Longshore & Warehouse Union September-October 2008 ADDRESS LABEL Hawaii longshore members raise their hands as they vote to approve a historic agreement which puts them ahead of the ILWU West Coast longshore for the first time since the industry was unionized. Hawaii fought for many years to achieve parity with the West Coast and has always played catch up to match the Mainland wages and benefits. Hawaii longshore breakthrough Hawaii’s basic longshore and wharf clerk members six weeks of vacation. Group life insurance will increase to $75,000. approved separate 6-year agreements which maintain Funeral leave will be extended to and improve benefits and increase wages by $5 an include stepchildren. Pension windows were created to Hawaii longshore chair Nate Lum hour over the life of the agreement. encourage earlier retirements. credits a strong, hard working union Workers aged 59-1/2 to 62 retiring negotiating committee and the For the first time, the wages of Wage differentials for skilled between August 1, 2009 and January solidarity of the longshore grouping Hawaii longshore members will jump classifications will increase by an 31, 2010 will receive a pension for the good settlement. “Everyone’s ahead of the West Coast. In the past, additional one dollar by the end of benefit of $165 times their credited on the same page now. We respected the agreement between the ILWU on the agreement. years of service not in excess of 37 each other’s jurisdiction and stayed the West Coast and the Pacific Longshore employers will continue years. united as a group.” Maritime Association set the pat- to provide fully paid medical and Another window from August 1, Members of the basic longshore tern, and Hawaii longshore would dental benefits for active workers 2012 and January 31, 2013 will union committee were: Wesley seek the same increases. In this and retirees. provide a benefit of $170 times their Furtado, Nate Lum, William Haole negotiations, the West Coast will get Improvements were made in a credited service not in excess of 37 IV, Dustin Dawson, Kimo Brown, the same hourly increase, but those number of benefit areas. The years of years for workers 59-1/2 to 62. Nelson Rita, Samuel Kaaihue, and increases come near the end of the service required to earn five weeks of The wharf clerk agreement also Raymond Carvalho. contract, while Hawaii’s increases vacation was reduced to 17 or more made an important breakthrough Negotiations have started with start from the beginning. years, and 22 or more years will earn in protecting their jurisdiction and Young Brothers and with the long- work. Night differentials were shore maintenance shops, container Vote “No” on also increased. yard, and container freight station. vention Constitutional Con Vote “Yes” on On absentee ballots and on the more complex issues. November 4, 2008, Hawaii voters Delegates would have to be paid for will be asked whether the state the months of meetings required. Honolulu rail system Estimates of the cost range from should hold a Constitutional Oahu voters will vote on four reduced by design and new $10 million to $20 million. Convention. charter amendments in the technology. If necessary, the Constitution can The ILWU urges a “NO” vote on General Election. One Rubber wheels and magnetic always be changed by the State this issue. There is no need for a amendment will be whether to levitation would be far more Legislature with the approval of the Hawaii State Constitutional move forward on the mass expensive to maintain and operate. voters. About 71 percent would Convention at this time. A survey transit system for Honolulu. The An elevated bus system would not prefer this less costly method of by OmniTrak Group found that 78 amendment will ask: “Shall the be adequate to handle future making needed changes to the percent of Hawaii’s voters would powers, duties, and functions of increases in passenger loads. Constitution. have nothing new to propose to the the city, through its director of The federal government will pay There is a danger that a small Constitution. In other words, the transportation services, include $900 million of the cost of minority of delegates could tie up Constitution is working as it should the establishment of a steel construction, estimated at $3.7 the convention on emotional and and nothing major needs to be wheel on steel rail transit billion. moral issues which do not belong in fixed. system?” This is a project which will take a legal document like the A Constitutional Convention The ILWU urges a “YES” vote many years to complete. The Constitution. would be expensive. Delegates on the rail system. Steel rail is a project will provide jobs and For these reasons, the ILWU would have to be selected from all tried and tested system with the stimulate the local economy. The urges a “NO” vote on holding a parts of the state. They would have lowest long-term maintainence current economic situation should Constitutional Convention. to be informed and educated about cost. Noise levels can be not be a reason to delay. OF page 2 VOICETHE ILWU September-October 2008 PoliticalAction General Election Recommendations Make your vote count for working families! Support your union’s recommendations in the General Elections this Oahu Division • ILWU Endorsements November 4, 2008. ILWU members and families are urged to General Election • Tuesday, November 4, 2008 vote for those candidates listed below. Cut out these lists and U.S. President.................... Barack Obama 43 Ewa Beach-West Loch .... Kurt Fevella keep them in your wallet as a reminder when you vote. U.S. Vice President ................... Joe Biden 44 Honokai-Nanakuli ...... Karen Leinani Awana Your Political Action Committee made these recommendations 45 Waianae ........ Maile S. L. Shimabukuro after interviewing the candidates, studying their voting records, U.S. House Dist 1 .......... Neil Abercrombie 46 Kahuku-N Shore ...... Michael Magaoay U.S. House Dist 2 ................. Mazie Hirono and asking them if they would support issues important to 47 Haiku-Kahuluu ........... Jessica Wooley 51 Waimanalo ..................Chris Kalani Lee working families. Some of these issues included support for State Senate workers compensation and the right of workers to unionize. 12 Iwilei-Waikiki ........ Brickwood Galuteria Mayor ............................. Mufi Hannemann 21 Ko Olina-Kaena ..... Colleen Hanabusa 23 Kahuku-Kaneohe ............. Clayton Hee County Council Hawaii Division • ILWU Endorsements District 1 ............................ Todd Kala Apo General Election • Tuesday, November 4, 2008 State House District 5 ................... OPEN Endorsement 17 Kalama-Hawaii Kai . Amy Yukiko Monk U.S. President ............. Barack Obama Mayor ................................. Billy Kenoi 19 Kaimuki-Waialae... Michael (Mike) Abe Board of Education U.S. Vice President ............. Joe Biden 20 St. Louis Hts.-Palolo .. Calvin K. Y. Say 3rd Dept. District ..... Denise L. Matsumoto Hawaii County Council 23 Waikiki-Kakaako .............. Tom Brower No Dept. District Res. ............. Lei Ahu Isa U.S. House..................... Mazie Hirono 4 ...................... Dennis (Fresh) Onishi 24 Manoa ........................... Isaac W. Choy Garrett M. Toguchi 5 ................................. Gary S. Safarik State Senate 1 .........Dwight Takamine 27 Liliha-Puunui ..... Sesnita Der-Ling Moepono Randall M. L. Yee 8 ................................ Kelly Greenwell 29 Kalihi-Sand Island.........Joey Manahan State House Board of Education 35 Waipahu ......... Henry James C. Aquino Office of Hawaiian Affairs 1 N. Hilo-Hamakua Mark Nakashima 1st Dept. Hawaii ..... Herbert S. Watanabe 36 Pearl City-Palisades ... Roy M. Takumi Island of Hawaii ......... Bob K. Lindsey 3 South Hilo, Keaau ....Clifton (Clift) Tsuji 7th Dept. Kauai ............... Maggie Cox 38 Mililani-Mililani Mauka .. Marilyn B. Lee Island of Kauai .... Donald B. Cataluna 4 Puna ................ Faye P. Hanohano 40 Makakilo-Kapolei .......... Sharon E. Har Island of Molokai ...... Colette Y. Piipii Machado 6 Kailua-Keauhou .... Denny Coffman Office of Hawaiian Affairs 41 Waipahu-Waikele Jon Riki Karamatsu No Island Residency Required .. Haunani Apoliona 7 N. Kona-S. Kohala ............... OPEN Island of Hawaii ......... Bob K. Lindsey 42 Waipahu-Ewa .. Rida T. R. Cabanilla Arakawa OPEN ENDORSEMENT: An “OPEN” Island of Kauai .... Donald B. Cataluna OPEN ENDORSEMENT: endorsement means that the union has no Island of Molokai ...... Colette Y. Piipii Machado An “OPEN” endorsement means that the union has no recommendation for any candidate recommendation for any candidate and No Island Residency Required .. Haunani Apoliona members may vote as they choose. and members may vote as they choose. “No” means no support or vote for that candidate. Maui Division • ILWU Endorsements General Election • Tuesday, November 4, 2008 More reasons to vote NO on a U.S. President ............. Barack Obama Maui County Council U.S. Vice President ............. Joe Biden Upcountry........... Gladys Coelho Baisa Constitutional Convention South Maui ........................ Don Couch • Most of the public have nothing new to propose or change in our U.S. House..................... Mazie Hirono West Maui ............ Alan (Al) Fukuyama State’s Constitution. This says the Constitution is working as it should Lanai ............. Sol P. Kaho‘ohanohano