Labor Organizing in Hawai'i: Past and Present

Over Thanksgiving Break, we traveled to Reign's home of O'ahu in order to examine the current state of organized labor in Hawai'i as it encounters neoliberalism and globalization, as well as the legacy of organizing which positioned Hawai'i as more unionized. Through several in-person and virtual interviews, on-site visits, and background research, we were able to gain an understanding of organizing through its use of identity, syndicalism or lack thereof, and the unique challenges of neoliberalism. Findings methodology, findings/results/impact, personal impact (for you!), next steps/further implications, and a map component if feasible (please reach out to Matt Cooney for assistance if you are integrating a map).

Our project helped uncover a very unique moment in US and Hawaiian labor history, in which the pandemic helped visualize and demystify the power of labor and reinvigorated support for organization. With the challenges and decline woven into neoliberalism, different approaches and methods of organizing have emerged with more of a focus on power and community rather than services and dues. In Hawai'i, specifically, due to the deliberate community divisions used to prevent organizing, a community element has in some ways always been present in order to maintain solidarity. This, paired with Hawai'i's high unionization rate, makes it especially important to look at when examining the present. How this new support and invigoration can be channelled into material successes for working people remains a challenge. Eric Gill, in our interview, praised Chris Smalls after meeting him at a local conference for his success in organizing against Amazon, but emphasized that winning a vote was only the beginning, and making gains was the hard part. We hope that our project is a stepping stone in understanding the challenges we face, as they are concentrated and heightened in Hawai'i, new challenges among neoliberalism, and how to combat them.

Personal- With labor and worker resistance being so closely linked to Hawaiian history and the way it is today, being able to comprehend that I think really allowed for a better sense of place while traveling their that made for an overall enriching experience. Also seeing and talking to people who have devoted their lives to the cause for working people was really inspiring and energizing, and has only deepened my interest in labor and labor history.