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Changing Hawaii
AT last week's multi-union rally at the state Capitol, a parade of well-known labor leaders took their turn at the podium to face a crowd estimated at 5,000-7,000. The isle union bosses had familiar names like Okata, Rodrigues, Rutledge, Gill. Union rally spawns
star named NaniAnd then came Aragon. Who? Nani Aragon, a 50-year-old secretary with the Honolulu Police Department's specialized services division and co-chairwoman of the political action committee of Unit 3, Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA).
Only a few minutes before, the master of ceremonies had informed Aragon that her scheduled speech had to be nixed, as the program was running long. No way, said Nani.
She rushed up to the mike and -- in a clear, commanding voice -- the Waimanalo resident and union member since 1989 mesmerized her fellow union members with the following words:
"Today we are making history. Look around you. When was the last time you rallied among members of other bargaining units and other unions?
"We are here to make a statement, to send a message that the public employee will not be a scapegoat for the predicament of the state's economy. There is no fairness when only a few are used to resolve a problem that affects the whole.
"As a member of HGEA's Unit 3 negotiating committee, I sat across from employers, trying to work out a viable solution for our concerns. They gave us the runaround and stalled whenever they could. They brought half-(expletive) proposals to the table. If this is any indication of their bargaining in good faith, we are doomed.
"The omnibus bill states that, without an agreement on the table from both sides, we would have to revert to what is stated in the new law. This means they would take away benefits that we have negotiated and enjoyed for the past 30 years. It is a mockery of our intelligence!
"House Speaker Calvin Say stated that 'tactics such as a large union rally look impressive, but tend to be more effective against younger, less experienced lawmakers.' He adds that demonstrators are only 'one segment of the population.'
"Well, to people like him, I respond: 'We'll give you something to worry about!' Remember in November, go out and vote. We put these people into office; we can get them out!"
NANI, now over her nervousness, took a deep breath and continued with confidence: "The HGEA has about 40,000 active, associate and retired members. This potential network of 80,000-130,000 voters can provide margins of victory in important elections.
"Electing as many of our endorsed candidates as possible gives our union the ability to influence legislation, the direction of government and decisions on key issues affecting our community.
"The first three letters of the word 'union' are U-N-I, and that's the message I leave with you. It's just You-and-I who can make things happen. No one else is going to do it for us. So when I say UNION IT, I'm saying, 'You-and-I ON IT!'
"For our future, for the futures of our loved ones, we need to focus continually on the goals that have motivated each of us to be here today. We have the right to decent wages, safe working conditions and economic opportunities. Mahalo, God bless and let's UNION IT!"
Limp with relief, Nani Aragon left the stage and fell into the arms of her husband, Joe, a police sketch artist with HPD. The expression on his face conveyed the unspoken critique: A union star is born.
Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
dchang@starbulletin.com, or by fax at 523-7863.