NORTH BERGEN, NJ – (October 24, 2025) The Twelfth Annual International Longshoremen’s Association Civil, Human & Women’s Rights Committee Award Dinner will honor four Industry leaders at a dinner scheduled for Saturday, November 1, 2025, at the Envue Autograph Collection Hotel in Weehawken, New Jersey. A reception begins at 6 pm with the dinner and awards program beginning at 7:30 pm.
Herbert Hall, Sr, an International Vice President and Business Agent with ILA Local 1233 in Newark serves as Chairman of the ILA’s Civil, Human and Women’s Rights Committee. Rodney Owens, from ILA Local 1, serves as Vice Chairman.
John Williams, District Representative with the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District, ILA is slated to receive the prestigious “Martin Luther King Jr. Award”. Luis Gonzalez, an International Vice President from the Port of Miami, and the president of ILA Local 1922 will be honored with the “Labor Leader Award”. Barbara Melvin, one of America’s Outstanding Port Executives, will receive the “William Bernard Dudley Humanitarian Award” and Maria Fong, a veteran of more than 50 years with the ILA, will be honored with the “Women’s Rights Award”.
“Our ILA Civil, Human & Women’s Rights Committee has selected four outstanding labor and industry leaders to honor at the 2025 dinner,” said ILA President Harold Daggett. “John Williams is an outstanding leader with the ILA’s South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District; Luis Gonzalez has distinguished himself as President of ILA Local 1922 and as an International Vice President. Barbara Melvin proved to be a strong advocate for working in partnership with the ILA in her executive roles at port authorities. Maria Fong is truly a legend in the ILA and someone I personally rely on as my Executive Assistant.”
The Envue Autograph Collection Hotel will host the November 1st ILA Civil, Human and Women’s Right’s Rights Dinner and is located at 550 Avenue at Port Imperial, Weehawken, NJ 07086.
For dinner information contact Billie Jean Easley at [email protected] or call cell 908-296-6598
