OF September/October 2012 VOICE THE ILWU page 1 Volume 52 • No. 5 The VOICE of the ILWU—Published by Local 142, International Longshore & Warehouse Union September/October 2012 Notice of ILWU ADDRESS L A BE Local 142 Election L This issue of the Voice of the NOTICE OF THIS ELECTION. Some All attempts were made to ILWU is your official notice of the units may post this notice on their preserve the physical appearance of 2012 ILWU Local 142 Election. It union bulletin boards, but this is not the original statements—capitalized contains the positions and candidates required for all units. In a few cases, words, underlining, boldfacing, and who will appear on the ballot and the where there is an error or change in italicizing were maintained. However, dates, times and locations of voting this notice, members may receive an all statements are printed with the for your unit. This issue also contains updated notice in the mail. However, same fonts and font size, except where statements and photographs submitted for all other members, this will be your limited space required a smaller font by candidates. only notice of this election. size. The dates, times and locations Some candidates did not submit a of voting for your unit are listed Candidate statements statement or photo. Their names are separately by geographical All candidates in the upcoming printed and we indicate that they did division—Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, and ILWU Local 142 elections had not submit a photo or statement by the Oahu—and sorted by unit number. the equal opportunity to submit a deadline. Hawaii Longshore Division voting photograph and statement which schedules are listed as they have would be printed in this issue of the Elections Committee been in the past; they are included in VOICE of the ILWU. The deadline for The ILWU Local Election the geographical division where the submission was 4:00 pm, September Committee is made up of one unit is located. For example, the Unit 28, 2012. representative from each Division. 2201 - Kahului Stevedores schedule The statements were limited to 200 The current members are Francis On the Inside is included in the Maui Division list. words and those statements longer Kamakaokalani from Maui Division, Look up your unit number or company than 200 words were cut to the last Herbert Kekuawela from Kauai Local election candidate name and take note of the dates, times, complete sentence. Otherwise, the Division, Frankie Pang from Hawaii statements, pages 2-11 and locations indicated for your unit. content of the statements are printed Division, Allen Rabut from the Hawaii For most members, THERE exactly as received, with no editing for Longshore Division, and Eddie WILL BE NO OTHER OFFICIAL spelling, punctuation, or grammar. Sekigawa from Oahu Division. Local election schedules, pages 12-17 ILWU Local 142 rank-and-filers make important policy decisions Nov. 6 General Election 26th Triennial Local Convention endorsements, page 20 The rank-and-file members of the ILWU Local 142 make the policies that direct the work of the Local union. This democratic duty of ILWU Local 142 members is done once every three years at a four-day Convention. The 26th ILWU Local 142 Convention was held this year from September 18-21 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu, Hawaii. A total of 450 delegates, observers delivered the Welcome Address. and special guests attended the Hanabusa spoke on the history of the Convention. Members from Hawaii, Longshore and the ILWU. She called Maui, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai all on the membership to support the attended, representing the entire state. Longshore Division in protecting the The delegates worked hard for four Jones Act, educating the Convention days and a few evenings to make on the importance of the Jones Act, decisions that will guide the union for here in Hawaii. ILWU International the next three years. All actions of the President Bob McEllrath followed Local Convention take effect upon the Congresswoman with a speech adoption by the Convention. from the heart. He recognized the hard (L-r) International Vice President Hawaii Wesley Furtado, U.S. Representative work of International Vice President Congressional District 2 candidate Tulsi Gabbard, and International President Robert McEllrath at the 26th ILWU Local 142 Convention. Members are urged Honored guests call for (Hawaii), Wesley Furtado. He shared to vote for ILWU-endorsed, worker-friendly candidates Gabbard, Mazie Hirono political action with the membership the struggles of (U.S. Senate), and Colleen Hanabusa (U.S. Representative Congressional Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa —continued on page 18 District 1) in the November 6, 2012 General Election. The next Local 142 Executive Board (LEB) meeting is scheduled to start at 9:00 am on December 14, 2012, in Honolulu at the ILWU building on 451 Atkinson Drive. ILWU members are welcome to attend as observers. OF page 2 VOICE THE ILWU September/October 2012 Local President Local Vice President Local President Candidate Local President Candidate Local Vice President Candidate Local Vice President Candidate Sheldon Biga Donna Domingo Teddy B. (Bear) Espeleta Wallace A. Ishibashi Jr. Aloha I am Sheldon Biga. I have Donna Domingo, President of the I am so humbled by the support I The candidate most Qualified, been a member since 1975 and have ILWU Local 142. have received upon my nomination Experienced, Genuinely cares for you. held various positions including Currently I’m the standing as the next ILWU Local 142 Vice Sustaining the quality of Local 142 Steward, Temporary Business Agent, President, And I am honored and President. Thank you to the Brothers through Integrity, Honesty, and Proven Negotiations Committee Member, grateful to be given the opportunity to and Sisters who attended the 26th Performance. Membership Service Chair, and Local serve in the highest level of this Union. Convention. I am filled with gratitude I humbly seek your support and Executive Board Member. Currently, Come November the ILWU Local for the love you have shown me and vote to allow me to serve as your Local I am Lead Millwright Journeyworker 142 membership will be faced with I will never forget that moment we Vice President. With each title officer and Crane Operator for HC&S. electing officers to serve this Union for shared. I listened and took to heart comes authority, with authority comes Born and raised in Wainee Village in the next 3 years. what was called for in this Convention. responsibilities, and with responsibility Lahaina, Maui, the values of unity I ask again for your support and You, my brothers and sisters, have comes accountability to the rank and and solidarity are rooted in me. I consideration in allowing me to serve called upon our great union to revive file. I truly believe that the balance of had the privilege of growing up in as your President. I’m grateful for a much-needed Education and power should be shared between the a community that was successfully the opportunity to have served the Communications program. Knowledge Divisions. Balance ensures broader interconnected as a family, where each membership for the past 8 years as is power. The more each of us know perspectives, unique problem solving, person worked hard and diligently the Vice President. The next 3 years on the Unit, Division and Local level, no single division should control this so that all could share in the fruitful we will emphasize on Education, and the stronger our union will stand in authority. benefits. This also proved fundamental Training, for the up and coming future defending the working families of As a member in good standing during difficult times, when all leaders and members, I heard you at Hawaii. since1975. FTO since 1993 and current families would pull together and align the convention loud and clear. And I I come from humble beginnings Hawaii Division Director, Proves that to overcome hardship. I carry these agree. – the pineapple fields of Lanai. I have I am dedicated and qualified to get the lessons and abilities with me as I The ILWU has a rich history never forgotten the real everyday job done. I’m offering my experience serve my family, my community, and like no other Union, and I am proud struggles of working mothers and as a respected leader and years of the ILWU. I believe my passion and of it. Our forefathers instilled the fathers. In the last 30 years as a administration skills. commitment will bring transparency democracy, and Principles in our member, I have worked in different I understand the needs of the rank in leadership and communication and Union. And I will uphold that legacy. capacities within the union, learning as and file and what it takes to sustain our strengthen unity between leaders and “Unity, Solidarity, and Strength” much as I could from you, my fellow family. The cost of living in paradise members. I have faith in our members, “An Injury to One is an Injury to All” Business Agents, Division Director, is spiraling out of control. That burden faith in ILWU, and faith in myself to it’s our Legacy and our Future. the staff of the Local and our titled will always hurt and be born to those join together to overcome significant Again I ask for your support, and officers. I look forward to thanking on the lowest rung of the economic struggles so that everyone may share join me to insure that the ILWU Local you, by serving you and representing ladder. The have and the have not’s in the triumphs. United we stand, 142 is here for the future generations you as the next Vice President.