International Longshoremen’s Association Preparing For 54th Quadrennial Convention July 20-23, 2015; Hundreds of ILA Delegates To Convene At Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico
NORTH BERGEN, NJ – (June 30, 2015) Hundreds of delegates at ports from Maine to Texas, Great Lakes region, major U.S. rivers, Eastern Canada and Puerto Rico belonging to the International Longshoremen’s Association are preparing to depart soon for San Juan, Puerto Rico where they will meet for the 54th ILA Convention scheduled for July 20-23 at the Caribe Hilton Hotel. During four-days of conventions sessions, delegates will consider resolutions, adopt new policies and hear from prominent speakers from labor, government, and employer groups. Elections for ILA Executive Officers and the Executive Board will be held on the final day of meetings.
Harold J. Daggett, who is completing his first four-year term as International President of the ILA and intends to run for re-election at the San Juan convention, said the ILA has put together an impressive list of speakers who will address more than 1000 ILA delegates and guests expected to attend.
Two U.S. Congressman: Benny Thompson from Mississippi and Gene Green from Texas will speak at the opening session of the ILA Convention on Monday, July 20, 2015 and be followed by Liz Shuler, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO; Terry O’Sullivan, General President of Laborers International Union and Clayola Brown, President of the A. Philip Randolph Institute.
Dave Adam, Chairman and CEO with United States Maritime Alliance is also scheduled to address ILA delegates and will likely touch on the exploratory talks USMX and ILA are holding regarding a contract extension. John Nardi, President of the lead management group for the Port of New York and New Jersey – New York Shipping Association – will also speak.
“Our convention comes two years after the ILA negotiated a landmark six-year Master Contract with United States Maritime Alliance so we will have an opportunity to discuss that and also how we will best prepare ourselves for future negotiations,” said ILA President Harold Daggett.
The ILA leader noted that Americans are now gearing up for the 2016 U.S. Presidential elections, likely generating interest and attention from ILA convention delegates.
“The ILA is excited to welcome one of the top leaders from the AFL-CIO Executive Council, Liz Shuler, the Secretary-Treasurer,” said Daggett. “We look forward to her updating the ILA on labor’s response to recent spate anti-union legislation proposed by our U.S. Congress, including Fast-Track and Port Performance bills.”
The ILA Convention runs from Monday, July 20 through Thursday, July 23, 2015 with registration beginning on Saturday, July 18. Elections for the top leadership posts in the ILA as well as its Executive Council will take place on the final day of the convention.