Negotiations begin today for Hawai'i dockworkers

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

Cargo ships sit at Matson and Sealand piers at Sand Island. Negotiations for Hawai'i dockworkers begin today, breaking with a tradition of waiting until the West Coast dockworkers' contract is ratified. Advertiser library photo

The talks are the first to address contract details of wages and benefits for about 500 dockworkers statewide, and follow preliminary agreements reached earlier on noneconomic issues.

They come after tentative agreement on a new six-year contract for West Coast dockworkers was reached last month after a disruptive 10-day lockout. A vote by rank-and-file members there is scheduled for January.

Typically, negotiations addressing cost-related issues start in Hawai'i after approval of a West Coast contract, but because of overwhelming support demonstrated at a caucus two weeks ago, Hawai'i negotiators agreed to get started now.

"We're going ahead," said Eusebio Lapenia Jr., president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142. "We have confidence it'll pass on the West Coast."

Lapenia would not disclose general terms sought or how far apart the two sides are, but said he is optimistic negotiations will result in a new contract. He also said it was possible a tentative agreement could be reached in this initial round of cost-related bargaining.

"That's why we're negotiating over the weekend," he said. "You got to be optimistic about negotiations, and that's what I am."

Tim Ho, president of the Hawaii Employers Council, which represents stevedoring companies, declined to characterize or discuss details of negotiation.

The Employers Council represents four companies: Hawaii Stevedores Inc.; Matson Navigation Co.; HT&T Co.; and McCabe, Hamilton & Renny Co.

Ocean transportation firm CSX Lines does not directly employ stevedores, contracting for them instead, primarily through Hawaii Stevedores.

The companies and the dockworkers have been working without disruption under a contract extended day by day since it expired at the end of June, Lapenia said.

Both sides met early this month after reviewing terms of the West Coast contract, which raised the average dockworker's annual salary from about $80,000 to around $100,000 while improving retirement benefits.

Approving new technology to enhance operating efficiency at ports also was a crucial part of the new West Coast deal, though technology is not expected to play as important a role in Hawai'i contract talks.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.