It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Wesley “Wes” Furtado, ILWU International Vice President, Hawaii. Wes started on the waterfront in 1978 as a second-generation longshoreman and member of ILWU Local 142. During his time on the waterfront, he became a shop steward, longshore unit officer, and longshore negotiating committee member.
As a rank and file organizer, Wes worked on and led campaigns to organize workers in Hawaii in various industries. In August 1989, he was appointed as an International Representative. In that capacity, he organized many companies, negotiated numerous, very difficult first contracts, and successfully negotiated many contract renewals.
In 2000, Wes was elected as ILWU International Vice President, Hawaii. Once elected as a Titled Officer, he continued to carry the torch by organizing new hotels in Hawaii and providing support during longshore and hotel contract negotiations. His most recent campaign and significant accomplishment was the creation of ILWU Local 100 where he organized the supervisors at each of the shipping companies in Hawaii and successfully negotiated their first contracts.
Vice President Furtado was a devoted trade unionist who served the ILWU with the highest amount of honor and dedication. Wes will always be “Ohana” to the ILWU and we will forever remember and cherish the leadership, humor, and kindness that was Vice President Wesley Furtado.
Wes is survived by his wife, Marla, and his daughter and son, Levana and Kyan.
Information concerning memorial services will be released at a later date. Further, there will be an in-depth article about Wes’ life and accomplishments in a future edition of The Dispatcher