OF February 2007 VOICETHE ILWU page 1

Volume 47 • No. 2 The VOICE of the ILWU—Published by Local 142, International Longshore & Warehouse Union February 2007

ADDRESS LABEL Recruitment begins for 8th ILWU Labor Institute —The 8th ILWU Labor Institute, a five-day long leadership training program for rank and file leaders, is scheduled for October 15-20, 2007, at the ILWU Hall in Honolulu. All delegates, including Oahu, will be housed at the Ala Moana Hotel across the street.

Top labor educators from the mainland and have been recruited to teach work- shops on the skills and practical knowledge needed by rank and file union activists. A highlight of this year’s institute will be workshops and panels by Robert M. Schwartz and Marsha Niemeijer. Schwartz is an attorney and author of a number of labor books, including Strikes, Picketing and Inside Campaigns: A Legal Guide for Unions. Marsha Niemeijer is a writer for “Labor Notes” and contributed to the writ- ing of A Troublemaker’s Handbook 2 - How On the Inside to fight back where you work — and Win. The two books are important and power- Pineapple industry news, ful tools for labor activists and union page 2 leaders. These tools can help unions develop more creative and effective strate- Meet your Local President, gies to win improvements when a contract expires page 3 and also help union activists in their everyday struggle on the job. All participants will receive a Hawaii Division copy of the two books recognition night, The Institute will begin at 10:00 am on Monday October 15. Classes will run from Monday through pages 4 & 5 Friday, and delegates will return home on Satur- day, October 20, 2007. Units on Oahu may send Remembering Edwina additional delegates for shorter periods of one or Smythe, James A. King, more days. and Nobu Tamura, pages Sending Delegates 6, 7 & 8 Units are encouraged to take this opportunity to improve the skills and education of their unit lead- ers. The Local will pay for all instructional costs, Next Local Executive materials, travel, room and board for all delegates. Units are responsible for paying lost wages for any Board Meeting delegates they may send. Units will need to hold scheduled for June 28- membership meetings to choose delegates and get 29, 2007 • 10:00 am • membership approval to spend unit funds for this purpose. 451 Atkinson Drive, Units should work with their Business Agents to Honolulu submit names of delegates and alternates to their Division in July 2007. The Division will make the final selection of delegates. The deadline for Divisions to submit names to the Local for the Institute is The VOICE of the ILWU welcomes September 1, 2007. letters, photographs and other A total of 120 participants will be accepted into the submissions from members. Institute. Following are the number of delegates Write to: Editor, VOICE of the ILWU, allocated to each Division: Hawaii - 28; Maui - 47; 451 Atkinson Drive. Honolulu, HI Kauai - 12; and Oahu - 33. 96814, or e-mail: For more information contact your business agent. ◆ [email protected] OF page 2 VOICETHE ILWU February 2007 P i n e a p p l e I n d u s t r y N e w s Labor board orders Del Monte Hawaii to pay more to laidoff pineapple workers HONOLULU—A ruling by the Hawaii Labor Relations Board orders Del Monte Fresh Produce (Hawaii) to pay additional severance and medical benefits to eligible former employees of Del Monte. The workers lost their jobs in January 2007 when the Florida- based company permanently closed pineapple operations on Oahu.

The March 21, 2007 ruling by the tion on the union and employer to Hawaii Labor Relations Board bargain collectively in good faith. (HLRB) was the result of unfair On November 17, 2006, three labor practice complaints filed in months after the ILWU filed its August 2006 by the workers’ union, unfair labor practice complaint, Del the International Longshore and Monte Fresh Produce announced it Warehouse Union, Local 142 would close immediately, two years (ILWU). The ILWU complaints ahead of schedule. charged Del Monte Fresh Produce Many Del Monte workers have a positive outlook despite being faced with the with failing to bargain in good faith Remedy ordered by Board challenge of finding a new job. Some have taken advantage of job training between February 2006 and July The three-member Hawaii Labor opportunities and are learning new skills, such as how to use computers. 2006, after the company first an- Relations Board was unanimous in nounced they would cease Hawaii its conclusion that Del Monte Hawaii new jobs. tiations on the single issue of provid- pineapple operations in December did not bargain in good faith. In a The Board further concluded Del ing at least 12 months of extended 2008. thorough and well-reasoned 22-page Monte’s bad faith bargaining re- medical coverage to workers and sulted in the loss of over two years of their families who have not yet medical coverage for eligible workers acquired insurance. and their families. The opinion by Negotiations concluded in May and the Board’s major- eligible ity stated: “Health workers are insurance often The three-member being stands as the last Hawaii Labor Relations contacted barrier between about their families and Board was unanimous interest in poverty or tragedy restoring in the [face] of in its conclusion that coverage to medical emergen- Del Monte Hawaii did not February cies . . . It is 2008. “For difficult, if not bargain in good faith. those work- impossible, for the ers who have Board to calculate no medical the damages that flowed as a result plan, the HLRB’s decision goes a of Del Monte’s bad faith bargaining long way to correct the injustice of of health insurance. But it would be Del Monte’s bad faith bargaining,” ILWU Local President Fred Galdones answers Del Monte workers’ questions cruel and unfair to not try to address said Fred Galdones, ILWU Local 142 about many topics, including severance, medical coverage, and unemployment benefits at a meeting held at the Kunia Gym. the effects of the violation.” President. “We’re hopeful that all The Board’s remedy to the loss of former Del Monte workers will soon The duty to bargain in good faith is document, the Board laid out their medical coverage was to order the be reemployed and can put this ◆ required by the Hawaii Revised findings of the facts, their conclu- union and company to reopen nego- ordeal behind them.” Statutes Chapter 377. The Hawaii sions of law, and their orders to law is patterned after the US Na- remedy the situation. tional Labor Relations Act which The Board ordered Del Monte to states in Section 1 of the Act: pay each eligible worker an addi- tional severance allowance based on It is declared to be the policy of the a closure date of December 2008. to eliminate the Workers had already received causes of certain substantial severance benefits based on their obstructions to the free flow of years of service to January 22, 2007. commerce and to mitigate and The additional severance would eliminate these obstructions when amount to about 15 days of pay or they have occurred by encouraging over $1,600 for a Grade VI worker the practice and procedure of earning $13.66 an hour. collective bargaining and by protect- The collective bargaining agree- ing the exercise by workers of full ment with the ILWU provides freedom of association, self-organi- workers classified as “Regulars” a zation, and designation of severance benefit of 8 days at the representatives of their own choos- current rate of pay for every year of ing, for the purpose of negotiating service with the company. For the terms and conditions of their example, a worker earning $14 an employment or other mutual aid or hour with 10 years of seniority would protection. receive a severance allowance of Over 350 workers filled Kunia Gym for a meeting held by the ILWU in January about $8,900. The money is intended 2007 to provide information on the closure of Del Monte Fresh Produce Both laws impose a mutual obliga- to help support workers as they seek (Hawaii). OF February 2007 VOICETHE ILWU page 3 M e e t Y o u r L o c a l P r e s i d e n t Turning the tide for working people— get involved with your union

By Federico Fred Galdones of the working people getting Having laws favoring the happens in the political arena Local President involved and electing politicians working people will level the that affects your conditions of The Local Convention com- who will vote for laws that favor playing field in organizing work- employment and standard of pleted its work in September the working people. Understand ing people into unions. Large living. Get involved. ◆ 2006 and adopted programs that how important it is. Learn how membership provides a greater will guide us for the next three the politicians have affected your influence in improving your years. It addresses the various conditions of employment and benefits in negotiations. Large areas that are important to our standard of living. Register to membership will provide more membership. I would like to cover vote and vote for the politicians opportunities to provide the one program area that needs to who care what happens to work- membership with more programs. be strengthened. ing people. Get involved if you care what The business community took a page from the labor union’s political campaign workbook and has been successful in electing “Get involved if you care [about] what politicians who support their happens in the political arena that affects agenda. Many laws have been your conditions of employment and passed that are not favorable for the working people. We must turn standard of living. Get involved.” the tide and we can do it with all Blue Diamond workers need your help to organize Excerpted from articles from www.ilwu.org and www.bluediamondunion.org

For years, Blue Diamond Growers General de Trabajadores (UGT) and (BDG), which operates the world’s the Confederación Sindical de largest almond processing plant, Comisiones Obreras (CC.OO) joined denied its workers the respect, raises together for an action at the 26th and benefits they deserve. In sum- Congress of the International Nut mer 2004, the 600+ workers began and Dried Fruit Council Foundation organizing to join the ILWU Local in Madrid. 17. They saw no other way to gain a Other international and US labor voice and hold on to some dignity at and community organizations, as work. well as ILWU members up and down Caught between soaring health the coast and in Hawaii have joined care costs and sagging wages, many the fight. BDG workers find themselves worse off than they were 15 years ago. You can help Inside the plant, workers often face a Blue Diamond workers need your harsh environment and hostile help. Ask Blue Diamond to respect attitudes. Repetitive strain injuries their workers’ right to organize. like carpal tunnel have become so Write to Doug Youngdahl, CEO, Blue routine workers don’t think to Diamond Growers, 1802 C St., mention them at first. Sacramento, CA 95814, or e-mail the company: [email protected]. Anti-union campaign • BDG fired four union supporters for the flimsiest of reasons—includ- ing Ivo Camilo, who had a spotless International Rep. Tracy Takano (r) record after 35 years in the plant. asks for a shopper’s support in front • BDG threatened that people of the Ala Moana See’s. would lose their pensions if they joined the union—or the plant would have to close.

Weaving a wide net of support The Blue Diamond workers have met with all Sacramento City Council members and a representative of the mayor. Seven of the eight Council The VOICE of the ILWU (ISSN 0505-8791) is published monthly except April and combined June/July and October/ members signed a pledge in support November issues for $2 per year by Hawaii International of the workers’ right to join a union. Longshore & Warehouse Union, 451 Atkinson Drive, On March 14, a 22-person delega- Honolulu, Hawaii 96814. Periodicals postage paid at the post office of Honolulu, Hawaii. tion from the Tokyo Coordination Center for Labor Unions visited BDG POSTMASTER: Send address changes to VOICE of the branch office in Tokyo to deliver a ILWU, c/o ILWU Local 142, 451 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, HI 96814. Editorial Board: Fred Galdones, Donna Domingo letter of protest urging Blue ILWU organizers leafletted See’s Candies outlets in the Ala Moana Shopping and Guy K. Fujimura. Diamond’s head office to immedi- Center, Kahala Mall and Pearlridge Shopping Center before Valentine’s Day, Editor: Mel Chang ately cease its anti-union campaign. Easter, and Mother’s Day. ILWU organizer Ron Clough (r) explains Blue On May 14 the ILWU, Unión Diamond workers’ fight to gain union representation for the past three years. OF page 4 VOICETHE ILWU February 2007

R e c o g n i z i n g O u t s t a n d i n g M e m b e r s

ach year, Hawaii Divi- their participation in the program noted that Daisy always spoke sion recognizes units, were: Corinna Salmo, Unit 1401 her mind and made sure the 30th an Emembers, and pension- - MLMO, LP Ka‘u; Jeanne rank-and-file were well-repre- ers who have made special Yoshizawa, Unit 1402 - Mauna sented on the Division, Local and contributions or provided exem- Loa Macadamia Nut Corp.; even International level. She was plary service. This year’s Angela Nagai, Unit 1421 - Sack proud of the ILWU for allowing recognitio awardees were honored with ’n Save; Teresa Cabulizan, Unit members to speak freely, without plaques, other awards, and the 1516 - Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & fear of retaliation. recognition of their peers. Bungalows; and Wes Martinez, Daisy said she was privileged to Unit 1517 - Hilton Waikoloa serve the ILWU and paraphrased for Hawaii D Outstanding Units Beach Hotel. John F. Kennedy’s works by 1-29 members: Unit 1201 - Big saying, “It’s By Joanne Kealoh Island Stevedores represented Pensioner not what the ILWU Social Services Co by Eli Miura and Unit 1419 - Club Awards “It’s not what the union can do A&B Fleet Service represented Most Activi- union can do for you, for you, but HILO—Recognition Night has been a by Neal Fujioka. ties: Papaikou what you can 30-99 members: Unit 1416 - Pensioner but what you can do do for the fellowhsip and fun for the past 30 yea Tropical Hawaiian Products. Club, repre- union.” With- 100+ members: Unit 1402 - sented by for the union.” out the This year’s event on February 10, 200 Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Louisa —Daisy Nakamoto members, she food prepared by Isaac Fiesta Jr.a nd Corp. represented by Wilma Manzano. said, there is Revilla and Unit 1515 - The Most New no union. music by Bonnie and Doug, and the h Fairmont Orchid represented Members: Pepeekeo Pensioner Daisy’s unit and their business officers and friends, Recognition Nig by Jun? Club, represented by Barbara agent, Isaac Fiesta Jr., presented Hanog. Daisy with a clock to help her Outstanding Editors come to pensioner meetings on Frankie Pang of Unit 1518 - Mahalo, Daisy time. Tom Poy, Hawaii Division Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel Hawaii Division Director Rich- Pensioner Council President, received the David E. Thompson ard Baker Jr. presented a special invited Daisy to help reestablish Award for Statewide Excellence award to Daisy Nakamoto, who the Puna club. for the second year in a row. His retired from Mauna Loa Macad- Also joining the festivities from bulletin was selected as best amia Nut Corp. that very day, for Kona were Roy Jardine and his overall statewide. her dedication and service to the wife Dottie. Roy retired last Mary “Swanee” Rillanos of ILWU and to Hawaii Division. September after 22 years with Unit 1503 - Mauna Kea Beach Daisy represented Hawaii Divi- the ILWU and will be recognized Hotel received the Hawaii Divi- sion on the Local Executive Board later at a special event by the sion Best Overall award. for 13 years, almost half as long full-time officers. ◆ Other editors recognized for as she was a member. Richard

Neal Fujioka accepts an award for Outstanding Unit, 1-29 Business Agent Isaac Fiesta Jr. presents the award for Outstanding Members for Unit 1419 - A&B Fleet Service from Hawaii Division Unit, 100+ Members to Unit 1402 - Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp. Director Richard Baker Jr. leaders Wilma Revilla (unit chair) and Daisy Nakamoto. OF February 2007 VOICETHE ILWU page 5

R e c o g n i z i n g O u t s t a n d i n g M e m b e r s h annual ition night aii Division y Joanne Kealoha cial Services Coordinator has been a tradition of good food, past 30 years with Hawaii Division. uary 10, 2007 was no exception. With esta Jr.a nd his steadfast crew, g, and the hard work of the full-time gnition Night 2007 was a success.

(Above) The ILWU Pepeekeo pensioner club received an award for the most new members. The Big Island has eight active pensioner NEXT MONTH: clubs: Hilo, Papaikou, Pepeekeo, Laupahoehoe, Paauilo, Honokaa, Pahala and Naalehu. If you or anyone you know is interested in joining any Outstanding of the ILWU pensioner clubs, call your Division office at 935-3727 (Hilo), 244- ILWU units 9191 (Waikuku), 245-3374 (Lihue) or 949-4161 (Honolulu). and members (Left, l-r) Business Agent Wallace are honored by Ishibashi Jr., Richard Baker Jr. and Unit 1515 - The Fairmont Orchid housekeeping steward Canuto “Jun” Maui Division Baugbog. Baugbog accepts an award for Outstanding Unit, 100+ Members and Oahu on behalf of The Fairmont. Division (Right) Eli Miura accepts an award for Outstanding Unit, 1-29 Members for Unit 1201 - Big Island Stevedores.

The ILWU is alive and well thanks to you Excerpts from Local President Fred thank you for sharing your time and program. I would also like to speak first contracts. Galdones’ words to members at the for the support. about the size of our membership. We need to increase our member- Hawaii Recognition night. ship to continue to be an influence Convention establishes We need to organize in the community, and to generate Good evening, Brothers, Sisters leadership program Our membership has declined over the income to support programs to and Honored Guests. The Local Convention adopted a the years. We lost some because of serve our membership. It is a major Tonight we recognize the units, program to provide succession to our improvements in the ways compa- challenge for our organizing staff pensioners and members who aging leaders. It will begin with a nies operated, some because of plant but we will and must succeed. have done an outstanding job in shadowing program and includes closures, and others were runaway serving our membership. It is my training classes. Through this shops. Work together as one honor to be here with you. training program we again hope to In 1946 our membership was Last February I asked you to get I would also like to say thank have a pool of potential unit leaders 34,000. In 1991 it was at 29,000. involved, get out there and build a you to all those who have given up who will be willing to step forward Today it is about 20,000. grassroots campaign to send US their personal needs and sacri- when the moment arrives. The size of the membership has an Senator back to ficed the time they would have The ILWU established its place in impact on our effectiveness in Congress. It was a challenging spent with their family to repre- the community and has been recog- political action and negotiations. We campaign and was a sent our membership. Our nized as a leader in advancing the gain influence through large num- strong opponent. However, with members’ lives are better because standard of living for working bers. your help, we were able to pull out you cared enough to share your families, worker rights and civil We have been successful in orga- a victory. talents in spite of the sacrifices rights. nizing new members, but in some The lesson is that we can over- you had to endure. This is a rank It was possible because of the cases not successful in getting a come a difficult situation when we and file union and you have strong leadership we had—and a contract. The organizing committee all work together as one. exemplified that. large membership to back it up. is working on a strategic plan to be The ILWU is alive and well. On behalf of the Titled Officers, We hope to develop the strong successful in bringing more members Thank you for all you have done for thank you for your participation; leadership through the training into the ILWU family and getting this organization. ◆ OF page 6 VOICETHE ILWU February 2007 I n M e m o r i a m Aloha and mahalo, Edwina Smythe Edwina Byron Kaehulani Smythe, took care of the members of that unit Edwina was active in the union’s 67, of Kahului, died Feb. 13, 2007, at like they were her family. political action program and served Maui Memorial Medical Center. Edwina represented the tourism as a member of the Maui County Edwina helped the ILWU organize grouping on the ILWU International Planning Commission, Maui Historic many of the hotels on Maui, was Executive Board from 1981 to 1983. Commission, Lahaina Community deeply involved in union political She also served as the ILWU State- Plan, and Maui Aloha United Way action, and was a strong and effec- wide Hotel Negotiations chair and Labor Liaison Committee. tive union leader. secretary. She was appointed by the Edwina Smythe was born Aug. 1, Edwina became an ILWU member ILWU Maui Division as a full-time 1939, on Oahu. She attended in 1968 when she started worked as officer in 1986. Kamehameha School. She is sur- a food and beverage cashier at the As a hotel worker, Edwina was an vived by a son, Brett “Duke” Smythe; Kaanapali Beach Hotel on Maui. She effective organizer and was involved five daughters, Star (Wesley) became active with the union after in a number of union organizing Medeiros, Dawn (Derrick) Fujiwara, the 1970 hotel strike, serving as unit drives on Maui, Molokai, and the Big Crystal (Fuzzy) Alboro, Jasmine secretary in 1970, as a member Island. She helped with organizing (Chris) Ryan and Melody Smythe; organizer from 1975, as unit editor in at the Molokai Sheraton, Kapalua two brothers, Oliver Mullaney and 1978, and as unit chair of the Bay Hotel, Stouffers WaiIea Hotel, Ronald Mullaney; three sisters, Kaanapali Beach Hotel from 1979 Sheraton Waikoloa, Mauna Lani Leonie Russell, Elaine Mulaney and until her retirement in 2003. The Resorts, Maui Intercontinental, and Eloise Kaiu; 20 grandchildren and unit has 220 members, and Edwina the Hyatt Regency Maui in 1980. four great-grandchildren. ◆ Remembering Edwina Smythe By Leonard Hoshijo Former ILWU International Vice President

At the March celebration of Maui Hyatt organizing drive, which Edwina Smythe’s life, people remem- spanned months because two elec- bered her as a mother, auntie, ILWU tions were needed. We’d organized Unit officer, County Planning Com- together on Molokai and on the missioner, ILWU hotel industry Wailea Beach and Kapalua Bay negotiating committee member, and hotels. Edwina was more on the for the many other things she did in Kapalua side and I on Wailea, but her life. She should also be known we interchanged. as a union organizer, as I remember John Arisumi, then a BA who also her most vividly, and where all the organized, ran those drives. They, facets of Edwina came into play. Edwina, “Latty” Camara, Sharon She did contribute to the union in Hong and Jerrybeth Demello who many roles. As a Unit chair helping called him “father John”, were countless members on the job and among core rank and file members fully, vocally, participating in Maui who came out fulltime on organizing Division Board meetings. As a drives. He teamed us as off-island fulltime Division Representative for staff organizers with Maui hotel a time, as a committee chair at members. That’s when her daughter Edwina Smythe (standing, third from right) with Maui Division members and statewide Local conventions. As a Star claims she was a teenager when (sitting) then Lt. Governor and ILWU Local President Eusebio bridge for potential leaders– in the she first met Guy Fujimura and Lapenia Jr. mid 90’s she was the only member of myself. the multi-hotel negotiating commit- So, to someone just reacting to and had to start “cold” with hun- many people who knew Edwina in tee that had been through the 1970 being chewed up by Edwina, I’d joke dreds of workers. She connected different ways could imagine her hotel strike. All this while golfing “so what?” I had that every day. But with them as an experienced hotel crawling on her belly at night (as she and, especially in the ‘90’s, immers- you know what? She was always worker, and… she knew her hotel described it) to put dye in a hotel ing herself in her Hawaiian culture. there. Always there to throw out her contract inside-out! Edwina, using swimming pool. She also directed convention remarks, but also there for the union charm, knowledge and intelligence? She was there. She didn’t just talk delegates to have fun, and led by and our organizing team. One influential Swan Court (fine about how important organizing is, example. She did all this, but to me If we’d decided to leaflet the dining) waiter who committed to the then decline when asked to come out “union organizer” was her biggest breakfast crew, she was there in the ILWU cited intelligence and honesty on an organizing drive. When on a and best role. parking lot at 5:00 a.m. She was during the house visit as the decid- drive, she set aside other priorities, She was “blunt” (many other words there if we went to talk to workers in ing factors for him. and stayed with it. During a visit have been used) and proud of it. the hot coral parking lot in the mid She was a prototype community- with her at Hale Makua after her More than one speaker at her memo- afternoon. She was there when we based union organizer, knowing who surgery, she said of the successful rial related how she included in her knocked on the last worker’s door at was related, where people worked a organizing drives, “We put them to advice to them something like “don’t 8:00 p.m., or 11 p.m. at Wahikuli second job, everybody’s business. bed, didn’t we?” be stupid.” So many friends and park if some food service workers She knew someone delivering mail, Whenever people recall her rough family said “that was Edwina”, had agreed to meet pau hana. These who might know where workers edges, or that not all her ideas were fondly in their memory, but may types of organizing drives mean lived. good ones, they must also admit that have felt pretty roughed up back putting aside one’s life for months at More than once I’d be driving to a she did her talking as someone who when they went through it. a time, and she did. house for a follow up visit, and she’d was taking part, who was doing her My standard joke back to people She might be criticizing and say something like, “Where you part. This was a shared experience who where complaining about just complaining all the way driving going? He and his girlfriend broke by the many who gathered at the being run through the wringer by house to house. Then we’d get to a up and he moved back with his celebration of Edwina’s life. These Edwina was that they were in no house. Nearly half the people she mom.” are some of the things I might have, position to complain. I’d claim first knew, especially on the west side. On those organizing teams Edwina or should have said. With all those position because of spending 12 They might be long time local fami- and other member-organizers would people who knew her, more could hours a day with her, week after lies, mainland “haoles” who worked stay with us off-islanders to eat our 9 have been said that can’t be written. week, month after month on the hotels, family of Filipino immigrant p.m. dinners and get us back to For those who didn’t know her, organizing trail, mostly going house workers at her hotel, or just people whatever motel “father John” had particularly union members, her to house in her small green car. she got to know. put us in. We heard stories from the example is a good one – “be vocal, We were teamed together on the She didn’t know everyone though, ’70 hotel strike. I wondered how but don’t just talk, do it.” ◆ OF February 2007 VOICETHE ILWU page 7 I n M e m o r i a m James A. King, fighter for working people James A. King died on February ordered to hold two peaks in the attorneys who worked for the firm 13, 2007 at the age of 85. Jim King Vosges Mountain but was overrun included Hideki Nakamura and was an active member of the Oahu and captured by the enemy. Jim Edward Nakamura who also served ILWU pensioners club and a retired spent the remaining six months of as chief justice of the Hawaii Su- labor attorney. Jim came from a the war in a German prison camp. preme Court. prominent kama’aina family with The war would change the direc- When the principal partners of the deep roots in Hawaii. His mother’s tion of Jim’s life. In his own eulogy, law firm, and Myer family could trace their ancestry to Jim wrote: “WW II was a defining Symonds retired, the attorneys in Hawaiian alii and his grandmother, time of his life: he felt if he survived the firm continued serving the labor Charlene Davis, had served as a he would do what he could to oppose community as the law firm of King, personal assistant to Queen wars, assist workers, and their Nakamura and Chun-Hoon and the Liliuokalani. His grandfather, James organizations (unions) and foster law firm of Takahashi, Vasconcellos, Anders King was the Minister of the social progress. He hopes to some (and Covert). Both law firms repre- Interior for the extent he has done so.” sented the ILWU and other unions, and his uncle was Territorial Gover- After the war, Jim obtained a Law as well as thousands of injured nor . Degree in 1948 from Columbia workers with their workers compen- Jim attended Punahou School, the University. He returned to Hawaii James King at a Steward’s Council sation cases. University of Hawaii, and graduated and, keeping his promise to assist meeting in 1979. King retired in 1996 but continued from Georgetown University, before workers and foster social progress, his involvement in the labor move- serving in the US Army in 1942-1945 he joined the law firm of Bouslog & the ILWU, UPW, the Hawaii News- ment as an active member of the during World War II. Jim was Symonds in 1949. paper Guild and other unions. The ILWU Oahu Pensioners Club. He is assigned to the 45th Infantry Divi- Bouslog & Symonds was the only firm attracted many talented and survived by wife Alma, daughters sion and fought in the bloody conflict law firm in Hawaii that represented progressive attorneys like King who Donna Lance and Stephanie on the front lines in Italy and the interests of working people and wanted to work for social justice and Kaumeheiwa, and seven grandchil- France. In 1945, his Battalion was their unions. The firm represented help working class people. Other dren. ◆

cause his attack, that it could have Chung’s heart condition happened anywhere, even in bed, Now, thirty-six years after Eulogy for Jim King and that its occurrence on the job Akamine, the outcries of wounded By Lowell Chun-Hoon was mere happenstance. However, insurance adjusters still reverberate Akamine’s personal physician stated through the Department of Labor Lowell Chun-Hoon, who practiced law with Jim from 1977 to 1996, wrote and simply that it was not possible to and Industrial Relations building at delievered the eulogy for Jim King at a grave side cermony on Feb. 23, 2007. know with any certainty why the 830 Punchbowl Street, sometimes The following piece from that eulogy describes some of the major accomplish- infarction occurred. even carrying one block mauka to ments of Jim’s career as a labor attorney. Having lost at the Department of Ali’iolani Hale and the appellate Labor and at the Labor and Indus- courts. In reality, Akamine “leveled Though he was predominantly a ultimately exonerated after a favor- trial Relations Appeals Board, Jim the playing field” for almost two labor lawyer, Jim practiced in almost able decision of the US. Supreme took an appeal to the Hawaii Su- generations so that employees, even every conceivable venue, handling Court in a paral1el case. While Jim preme Court, relying on the those unrepresented by counsel, have more than his share of personal was not lead counsel in these cases, presumption in Section 386-85 HRS. a fighting chance to have their injury, family law, criminal, and he, Ed Nakamura and Nadao This provision states, “It shall be industrial accident claim successfully estate and trusts issues for members Yoshinaga were part of the five presumed, in the absence of substan- adjudicated. of ILWU Loca1142, United Public person legal team that essentially tial evidence to the contrary: (1) That Like all labor lawyers of his Workers Loca1646, and Carpenters held the entire the claim is for a generation, the guts of Jim’s practice Local 745. He joined the firm of territorial and covered work was in a myriad of unpublicized Bouslog & Symonds in 1949, after federal govern- As we press on against injury.” From claims over herniated discs and the ILWU had succeeded for the first ment at bay in its these twenty-two repetitive motion disorders, social time in organizing sugar workers, attempt to quash the forces of ignorance words, compris- security disability and unemploy- when the union faced four hundred the labor move- ing only one ment insurance adjudications, pending trials of striking employees. ment in its and prejudice, avarice, sentence, Jim arbitrations concerning discharges, However, not a single Hawaii lawyer infancy and strife, we should fashioned an suspensions, and contract interpreta- would represent them. Harriet and As organized argument that tion; as well as esoteric unfair labor Sy were both founding members of labor became take comfort in persuaded the practices over organizing elections, the National Lawyers Guild, and accepted into the Hawaii Supreme placement of picket lines, and they challenged the territorial fabric of Hawaii’s knowing we are not Court to rule in execution of secondary boycotts. Unlawful Assembly and Riot Acts, social and eco- 1972 that when- In 1979, Jim lead a team of four fought injunctions against strikes, nomic life, the alone. We stand on the ever there was lawyers in the statewide United and defended the 1949 dock strike. nature of the shoulders of giants, reasonable doubt Public Workers strike resisting Sy and Harriet represented the 39 legal conflicts about factual strike injunctions on every island reluctant witnesses before the US. trade unionists men like Jim, full of conflicts concern- and battling health and safety House Un-American Activities confronted ing an industrial proceedings at the Hawaii Public Committee and Senate Judicial changed from courage, daring, accident, the Employees Labor Relations Board. Internal Security hearings and had battling for their imagination, and love. humanitarian Where the public had once splashed them take the Fifth Amendment. very existence purpose of the red paint on the office during the The government argued the 5th toward enhance- statute required heyday of McCarthyism, irate amendment could not be invoked in a ment of basic rights and benefits. that this doubt be resolved in favor of citizens telephoned their threats to congressional hearing but Judge One of the greatest milestones of this the injured worker. In a second dump their garbage on the doorsteps Delbert Metzger sustained the use of advancement arose from Jim’s most enormous precedent, Chung v. of the law firm during the height of the privilege, the first ruling of its celebrated case, Akamine v. Hawaii Animal Clinic, 63 Haw. 642 (1981) the six week work stoppage. kind in the United States. They also Packing and Crating, 53 Haw. 406 argued by Hideki Nakamura, the For those of us who remain, Jim’s represented the Hawaii Seven, (1972), Edward K. Akamine suffered court ruled in 1981 that the life was truly humbling, but hopeful. including Jack Hall, in a seven and a heart attack on January 19, 1968 veterinarian’s heart attack sustained As we press on against the forces of half month trial, when the Seven after Loading, stacking and hand while jogging on the Kalani High ignorance and prejudice, avarice, and were charged under the trucking cargo from container trucks School track after work also arose strife, we should take comfort in with conspiring and teaching the to cargo bays for five to six hours.. out of and in the course of employ- knowing we are not alone. We stand overthrow of government by force One cardiologist opined that his ment because medical evidence on the shoulders of giants, men like and violence. The Seven were ini- work activity did not in any way demonstrated that employment Jim, full of courage, daring, imagina- tially convicted at trial but aggravate, accelerate, precipitate, or stress was a contributing cause to tion, and love. ◆ OF page 8 VOICETHE ILWU February 2007 I n M e m o r i a m Remembering Kauai Division full-time officer Nobuyoshi “Nobu” Tamura

Nobuyoshi “Nobu” Tamura of Kilauea died in Hawai‘i worked at Princeville, another ILWU unit, where he also served as unit Kai, O‘ahu, on Jan. 27, 2007, at the age of 91. chairperson. In 1972 Nobu was appointed by the He was born in Kilauea, Kauai, on as the unit chairperson of the ILWU Kauai Division as a full-time Feb. 25, 1915, and began working for Kilauea Sugar Unit for 25 years from officer to service the growing tourism the Kilauea Sugar Plantation in 1946 until C. Brewer closed the membership of the union. During this 1928 after graduating from Kilauea plantation in 1971. time, Nobu also served on a number Elementary School. He was 13 years The Kilauea Unit had 200 mem- of public boards and commissions old. He started as a scale house bers and Nobu held monthly such as the Kauai Police Commission, worker and worked his way up to meetings and had the best member- Hawaii Housing Authority, Contrac- become a journeyman plumber. He ship attendance of any ILWU unit on tor Licensing Board, and Kauai became active with the ILWU after Kauai. County Highway Safety Council. As the sugar strike of 1946, and served When the plantation closed, Nobu part of the ILWU political action

Nobuyoshi Tamura, 1981. ILWU 142 program, the union actively seeks the appointment of ordinary working people like Nobu to government boards. This is one way working STATEWIDE people can insure that government serves their interests and concerns 52nd men's fast pitch as workers. may 11-12, 2007 + KAUAI ILWU tourism units honored Nobu SPORTS at a retirement party when he retired from the ILWU in 1982. Over 250 people attended the party at Kauai Surf Resort, where the PROGRAM 54th mixed golf present Kauai Marriott is located. Nobu remained active in his retire- september 1-2, 2007 + MAUI ment and was honored as one of the oldest bowlers at the 2005 Hawaii State Senior Bowling Tournament held at Hilo Lanes. 22nd men's slow pitch He is survived by his wife Eleanor Tamura; daughters Avis Tamura and september 21-22, 2007 + OAHU Holly Tamura, both of Honolulu, and Melissa Ebinger of San Diego, Calif.; step-daughters Cris Asuncion of San Diego, Joanne Asuncion of Germany 51st mixed bowling and Faith (Joel) Sugahara of Ari- zona; step-son Leonard Asuncion of november 23-24, 2007 + HAWAII California; brother Tatsuo (Itsuko) Tamura of Kilauea; sisters Michie Yonekura of Honolulu, Masayo Yoshihara of Kapa‘a, Miyako 26th men's basketball (Shoichi) Takenaka of Kapa‘a and Chieko Ota of Kapa‘a; sister-in-law december 7-8, 2007 + KAUAI Elaine Tamura of Kapa‘a; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchil- dren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. ◆

Open to all ILWU 142 members, Know non-union spouses, and dependent children. workers who need help organizing? Some unit finance policies may pay the entry fee for team events. If you know workers at a non-union company who need help securing their jobs and making improvements To join these activities or for more information, at their workplace, let your union representative know! contact your unit sports coordinators or call the Call the ILWU and ask for the Division sports coordinators at the numbers below. Organizing Dept. at your Division Office: Hawaii: 808-935-3727 Maui: 808-244-9191 935-3727 244-9191 245-3374 949-4161 Kauai: 808-245-3374 3/13/07 eo Oahu: 808-949-4161