Local Union 1186 IBEW

This ends another tough economic year, although we rebounded financially from March of this year through September.

We now are experiencing what the mainland has been feeling in the last year with unemployment in construction being at its lowest. It is always described as the trickle down effect with lack of construction meaning less workers working, thus spending less money.

Spending less money causes other entities such as retail and entertainment to go down and causes either layoffs or closing of stores. We need to encourage our government to release that stimulus money towards construction for all trades and not just a few. Fixing roads and bridges will only put some crafts to work; we need bigger projects that will encompass all trades. Enough said.

HELPING OUR MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY

This year was dedicated towards giving back to the members and helping our community. We participated in a lot of events throughout the year with “Walk for Diabetes”, “Aloha United Way”, “Adult Friends for Youth”, “March of Dimes”, “Kapiolani Children’s Hospital”, and “Hawaii High School Athletic Association” just to name a few.

We also had our Union Picnics on all islands, helped in the Labor Day Unity Picnic, sponsorship of “Da Braddahs and Friends”, sponsorship of “OC16 Sports”, and sponsorship of “Aloha from Kuwait”, which by the way was a huge success for our military. Thanks also to Kimberly Lehano, our HEMEP Marketing Director for the making of our commercials and putting “out there” in the public’s eye in a positive way.

THANKS

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of our staff (Union, Administrative, and Training), members in all Units, and retirees, for their countless time and effort in volunteering to help make our Union a success. From shooting of commercials, helping the schools, to making our Union Hall have a new look, this all couldn’t have been done without you. A BIG Mahalo Nui Loa!

Watch for more of our upcoming sponsorships, TV commercials, and community events for the rest of this year. Local 1186 is always looking for volunteers to help in our community and commercials, so if you decide that you want to get involved, call our office for future events.

Last of all, to our members and friends, I would like to wish you and your ohana a safe and healthy holiday season. Mele Kalikimaka and a Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!

In honor of the recent Labor Day holiday, The Hawaii Electricians is offering this quick study of how unions help workers with a voice on the job:

What is a Union?
A union is a group of workers who forms an organization to gain:

How do people form a union?
When workers decide they want to come together to improve their jobs, they work with a union to help them form their own local chapter. After a majority of workers shows they want a union, employers sometimes honor the workers' choice.
Often the workers must ask the government through the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold an election. If the workers win their union, they negotiate a contract with the employer that spells out each party's rights and responsibilities in the work place.

What kinds of workers are forming unions today?
A wider range of people than ever before, including many women and immigrants, is joining unions: doctors, nurses, poultry workers, graduate employees, home health care aides, wireless communications workers, auto parts workers and engineers, to name a few.

How do unions help working families today?
Through unions, workers win better wages, benefits, and a voice on the job — and good union jobs mean stronger communities. Union workers earn 26 percent more than nonunion workers and are more likely to receive healthcare and pension benefits than those without a union.
In 2002, median weekly earnings for full-time union wage and salary workers were $740, compared with $587 for their nonunion counterparts. Unions lead the fight today for better lives for working people, such as through expanded family and medical leave, improved safety and health protection, and fair-trade agreements that lift the standard of living for workers all over the world.

What have unions accomplished for all workers?
Unions have made life better for all of America's workers by helping to pass laws endings child labor, establishing the eight-hour day, protecting worker's safety and health, and helping create Social Security, unemployment insurance, and the minimum wage.
Unions are continuing the fight today to improve life for all working families in America.