We’ve Got Work to Do

Sisters, Brothers, and Fellow Workers,

In 2018, I received a call from ILWU Vice President Wesley Furtado that set me on a path to run for International office. He asked me to come to Hawaii to meet with him and members of the Hawaii Longshore Division. Over breakfast, we talked about the future of our union.

“You have work to do,” he told me.

It was both a challenge and a call to action. He was right. I couldn’t stay on the sidelines, content with my past elected offices. I understood that my real work was only just beginning.

I rose to the challenge and ran for International office. With the membership’s support, I served two terms as International Vice President. Those six years were tough. In 2020, we lost Uncle Wes. We faced a pandemic, endured 13 months of grueling West Coast longshore negotiations, and confronted a decade-long lawsuit from ICTSI that threatened our very existence.

Before we could move forward, we had to clear the obstacles in our path. I am grateful to President Emeritus Willie Adams for removing many of those stumbling blocks, allowing the new officers to focus on building a stronger ILWU, free from the shadow of bankruptcy and the accompanying drain on our resources.

Now is not the time to rest. We have a unique three-year window, free from major distractions, to move this union forward, re-engage our membership, and recommit ourselves to our core values. From the Titled Officers to our newest members, we all have work to do.

We will work closely with our active members and pensioners—including our three President Emeriti—to modernize our union’s policies and practices. This union is rich in untapped talent and enthusiasm, and we will draw on the experience and knowledge from all our regions and divisions.

The effort will begin with the International Officers and the International Executive Board (IEB). At our October meeting, the Officers presented the IEB with a comprehensive, strategic three-year plan to improve every department and program in the ILWU. The IEB unanimously adopted this plan, and we have already begun the work of implementation. Part of the plan involves holding our IEB meetings in different areas over the next three years, providing more opportunities to interact with members and allowing rank-and-file members to observe and participate in the International’s work firsthand.

• IEB Committees: the Foundation of Our Plan
  We will have seven ILWU Executive Board Committees for the 2024–2027 term, each with defined goals and deliverables. Five are new committees; two are existing. These committees will empower IEB members to shape and implement the ILWU’s priorities:
• Infrastructure Committee (New)
  This committee will recommend improvements to the union’s internal structure and operations, including IT infrastructure and operational policies.
• Policies and Programs Committee (New)
  This committee will address social issues, inclusivity, and internal community-building. It will help strengthen and maintain unity and solidarity by fostering understanding among all members.
• Education Committee (New)
  This committee will update ILWU educational programs, making our curriculum more accessible—potentially through online platforms—and developing new materials for conferences and local training. It will also update How the Union Works and The ILWU Story to reflect who we are today.
• Communications Committee (New)
  This committee will advise on all communication channels, including The Dispatcher, social media, and other outreach methods. Its members will source articles and ensure we’re providing timely, relevant, and useful information to the membership.
• Legislative Committee (New)
  This committee will advocate for legislative priorities that represent all ILWU locals and affiliates—whether you work in a warehouse, a hotel, a hospital, a mine, or on the docks. Every member deserves a voice in Washington, D.C. The committee will work closely with the International Officers, the Coast Longshore Legislative Committee and Chair, and the Senior Policy Advisor.

Existing Committees:

• Offshore Wind Committee (Established 2020):
  This IEB committee monitors the emerging offshore wind industry on the West Coast, guarding and advancing ILWU jurisdiction for all divisions.
• International Organizing Committee (Established 2018):
  This committee supports the Organizing Department with regional knowledge and best practices, maintaining open communication with local officers and rank-and-file members, and assisting with first contract negotiations.

Delivering for Our Union

The Titled Officers and the Executive Board are on the clock. We are committed to modernizing and updating our union’s practices so that the ILWU is well-positioned to face future challenges. Central to these efforts is our renewed emphasis on empowering members through comprehensive education and strengthening our collective power through targeted organizing initiatives. By our next convention, this administration will demonstrate tangible progress across all ILWU departments and programs, ensuring that the union’s foundations in education and organizing are stronger than ever.

This will be a collective effort. We will engage the membership, our pensioners, and leaders throughout the union. The ILWU is all of us, and we share the responsibility to honor those who came before and to set the stage for those who will follow. Together, we must safeguard this union and carry forward the proud legacy and traditions we’ve inherited.

We have work to do—and we will get it done.

Bobby Olvera, Jr.
International President