Amazon Labor Union President Chris Smalls will discuss the growing trend of independent labor unions at an event that the Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR) and Labor Studies at UH West O‘ahu are helping to organize along with other union cosponsors.
The 10th annual LaborFest Hawai‘i event, “Organize Hawaii,” will be live streamed at 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15, on the LaborFest Hawai‘i Facebook and YouTube pages. There will also be a stream link during the live broadcast via olelo.org.
The purpose of the event is to discuss the current wave of independent labor unions — such as Amazon, Chipotle, Starbucks, and Target — and the obstacles workers face when trying to organize an independent union in their workplace, said UH West O‘ahu faculty specialist in Labor Education and event co-organizer Dr. Leslie Lopez.
“Organize Hawai‘i” will feature a panel discussion including Smalls and CLEAR Director Dr. William Puette, and moderated by Lyla Berg. Other panelists include:
- Representative Amy Perruso
- Kalani Werner, UPW state director
- Eric Gill, Unite HERE Local 5 financial secretary and treasurer
- Chris West, ILWU Local 142 president
- Kawena‘ulaokalā Kapahua, graduate worker, Academic Labor United
“We hope attendees learn about the invaluable role organized labor plays in workplace safety, wage standards, and healthcare in society, particularly in Hawai‘i,” Lopez said. “We hope working people learn how important it is to vote for legislators who support organized labor, and how labor laws that protect working people also protect the general public.”
For questions about the event, email laborfest.hi@gmail.com.
LaborFest event flyer:
