History

--Roots of 
the ILA

--The Dawn 
of Unionism

--First 
Longshoremen's
Union

--ILA
Beginnings

--Early Threats
To Unionism

--Realism 
and Caution

--The Haymarket
Riot

--Creation of
the ILA

--Affiliation with
AFL-CIO

--Fighting
Communism
and racism

--ILA arrives in
New York

--ILA absorbs
LUPA

--Gangland
Myths

--Wagner Act

--Pacific Coast
Split

--ILA Accused
of Gangsterism

--Teddy Gleason
Fights to Save
the ILA

Teddy Gleason

--Elected President
of the ILA

--ILA in the
Present

ILA under attack

ILA accused of Gangsterism
Gangland myth sensationalized by media
ILA president Ryan discredited
AFL turns against the ILA

 The 1950s was a decade of turmoil and trauma for the ILA. Several sensationalist articles printed in New York City newspapers focused on so-called rampant gangsterism on the City's waterfront. At the same time, increasing unrest on the New York waterfront caused by internal conflicts in the ILA resulted in a 25-day work stoppage that halted only when New York State Industrial Commissioner Edward Corsi appointed a board of inquiry to investigate the October 1951 agreement in question. Extending the investigation beyond its original mandate, the Corsi Report first addressed the voting procedures initially at question-which turned out to be flawed, but not fraudulent-and then went on to focus on irregularities in the administration of several New York locals.

The Corsi Report captured the attention of the public-it was perfect ammunition for the press-as well as that of Governor Thomas E. Dewey, who ordered his New York State Crime Commission to conduct a full investigation of the ILA.  In actuality, the investigation was more like a trial, with "witnesses" testifying against the ILA and its leadership.  Eventually, the highly publicized investigation ended with the condemnation of both the ILA and the beloved Ryan as corrupt. The Waterfront Commission of the New York Harbor was created in 1953 to temporarily oversee the waterfront and was given what many characterized as dictatorial power.  

The ILA strove to clean house and rid itself of the few members who had in fact been proven corrupt or criminal, but the Waterfront Commission set forth unattainable goals from the beginning. In August 1953, the ILA was suspended from the American Federation of Labor, a devastating blow.  The AFL created the International Brotherhood of Longshoremen (IBL-AFL) to replace the besmirched ILA and scheduled representational elections. 

The accusations of negligence which so brutally damaged Ryan's reputation were ultimately proved to be groundless. Nevertheless, under the relentless pressure of the investigations and denunciations, Ryan resigned. Captain William V. Bradley was elected to the presidency of the ILA-Independent at the November 1953 convention. 

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