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STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
Adopted
at Territorial Sugar Unity Conference held in Hilo, Hawaii
on January 3, 4, 5, 1948
1. THE ILWU IS AN AMERICAN INSTITUTION founded on the
principles of American democracy. We are dedicated to the welfare of our membership and to
a better life for the people in the communities in which we live.
2. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ILWU and the structure
of its organization is a living daily example of democracy in action. This Constitution
provides for the fullest expression of the democratic process. It imposes an obligation
and a duty on the entire membership to safeguard, to use, and to strengthen their
democratic rights by active participation in the life of the union.
3. THE ILWU IS GOVERNED by the principles and policies
formulated through the democratic machinery of the union. No political party, Communist,
Republican, Democratic or other, and no racial or religious group shall determine our
policies.
4. THE AFFAIRS OF THE UNION are the property of the
membership and the membership alone. No clique, or group of any nature shall dominate its
work or govern its affairs.
5. ALL OFFICERS AND LEADING MEMBERS are obligated and
entrusted by reason of their office to carry out the policies of the union as determined
by the membership. Acceptance of office is acceptance of this obligation and no office in
the union or union funds shall be used for the advancement of personal or private
objective or gains.
6. THIS UNION will not be a party to any witch-hunt or
red-baiting campaign. The individual opinions or beliefs of the members are their own, and
the democratic machinery of the union extends equally to the protection of the individual
in their right to hold their own convictions.
THESE ARE THE PRINCIPLES that have guided this union
since its formation. They stand on their own merits. They guarantee the maintenance of our
organization, the security of our membership, and our basic rights as Americans.