ILWU again petitions PMA to release essential cargo to Hawaii

Oct. 4, 2002

            ILWU International President James Spinosa again requested that the Pacific Maritime Association allow union members to work ships with vital supplies bound for Hawaii . In a letter addressed to PMA CEO Joe Miniace today Spinosa noted that the employer association finally agreed to allow the ILWU to work ships with essential cargo bound for Alaska after nearly a week of such requests from the union.

            “ Hawaii should be no different since they are in the same precarious position as Alaska ,” Spinosa wrote.

            The Hawaiian Islands are almost completely dependent on consumer supplies from outside, including most of its food. The ILWU has nearly 20,000 members working in various industries on the islands and is very concerned for their welfare as well as the entire economy of the state that has been severely hurt since the Sept. 11 tragedy damaged its main industry of tourism.