On March 31, 2010, equipped with bullhorns, cowbells, whistles and sirens the fight for “Local Jobs for Local People” shook up Aloha Stadium in an early morning march.  Approximately 100 people gathered from many diverse unions such as the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 50 (IUPAT, DC50), Hawaii Masons Union, Ironworkers Union and the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council to show support for the “Local Jobs for Local People” movement and to voice disapproval that state contracts are still going to out-of-state contractors.

“The Local Jobs for Local People’ campaign is about change.  We need to remind the people of Hawaii and the politicians that in a recession, taxpayer money needs to stay here.  As you can see by the support from the various building and construction trade unions that this is not just an IUPAT, DC50 problem, it’s everyone’s problem,” states Lynn Kinney, Business Managers/Secretary-Treasurer, IUPAT, DC50.

The “Local Jobs for Local People” campaign was first heard last August.  The IUPAT, DC50 ran pointed documentary-style commercials shot at Aloha Stadium job sites with close-up work trucks with mainland license plates.  The commercial concluded with a rally at the state capitol with over 100 attendees.  Hawaii is not the first state to organize a “Local Jobs for Local People” campaign.  Times of crisis affect social movement.  With the worsening economy and jobs at stake people are fighting for their rights.  “This is the time for change in Hawaii,” says Kinney.  “This is the time for Joe Citizen to let politicians know it’s not okay to take our jobs.  This is about survival.”

The Local jobs for local people movement has become a grassroots phenomenon nationally and globally with campaigns sprouting organically in Ohio, New York, New Mexico, Australia and the United Kingdom.