Unions reaffirm support for Rep Gabbard and Jones Act

by Michael Hansen, Hawaii Shippers Council, July 19, 2018

The online news site, Maui Now, published on July 18, 2018, the news article, “Hawai‘i Unions Representing 130,000 Workers Endorse Gabbard,” describing the Union endorsements for Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI02)’s reelection campaign for the 2018 federal election cycle.

Rep Gabbard, born 1981 in American Samoa, was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and has served three terms representing Hawaii’s second congressional district, which includes rural Oahu and the Neighbor Islands. Previously she served single terms on the Honolulu City Council and in the Hawaii State House of Representatives.

As reported by Maui Now, Rep. Gabbard has secured substantial government and private sector union support including from the maritime unions for her support of Jones Act cabotage.

Key excerpts from Maui Now:

Hawaiʻi unions representing 130,000 workers across the state announced their continued support for Tulsi Gabbard and endorsed her re-election to represent Hawaiʻi’s Second Congressional District.

The endorsements come from HGEA, Hawaiʻi’s largest union with nearly 43,000 members from all islands, ILWU Local 142, the Seafarers Union, and the Hawaiʻi State AFL-CIO, a voluntary federation representing 73 local affiliate unions and councils across the state

“On behalf of the 43,000 members of the Hawaiʻi Government Employees Association and the AFL-CIO, our Board of Directors has unanimously endorsed Tulsi Gabbard’s re-election to continue serving the people of Hawaiʻi in Congress. We are so grateful to Tulsi for her dedication to improving the lives of working families in Hawaiʻi and for her commitment to supporting our organization’s mission to preserve and advance employee rights and benefits through collective bargaining, legislative advocacy, and political action,” said Randy Perreira, HGEA Executive Director and Hawaiʻi State AFL-CIO President.

“The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142 strongly endorses Tulsi Gabbard’s re-election to Congress. She has fought to protect the interests of our workers and their families here in Hawaiʻi and helped our sugar workers on Maui transition to new employment and obtain training opportunities when the state’s last sugar plantation closed down. We look forward to Tulsi’s continued leadership in Congress for our 18,000 members in Hawaiʻi, who are employed in every major industry, including longshore, general trades, tourism, and agriculture,” said Donna Domingo, ILWU President.

“During Tulsi Gabbard’s three terms representing the people of Hawaiʻi’s Second Congressional District, she has demonstrated solid support for the men and women of the US Merchant Marine. She has been with us in support of the Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program, and cargo preference. She has been a fighter for all workers. As a military veteran, Tulsi knows what it means to have those who serve with you protect your back. The SIU is proud to stand with Tulsi,” said Michael Sacco, Seafarers International Union President.