International Longshoremen’s Association Pledges Full Support To Get Clean, Drinkable Water To Flint, Michigan; Will Enlist Help From Atlantic Coast District; South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District To Aid Midwest City in Crisis
NORTH BERGEN, NJ (Jan. 21, 2016)– Harold J. Daggett, President of the International Longshoremen’s Association, today pledged to get clean, drinkable water to the citizens of Flint, Michigan, a day after disgraced Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder admitted in his State of the State address that he made mistakes in handling the Flint water crisis. The state had continually downplayed and largely ignored complaints about the smell, color and taste of the water, dating back to 2014.
“The time for excuses is over and the time for action is now,” said ILA President Daggett. “I am calling on my two Districts, and my Vice Presidents in the Great Lakes region to help me get clean bottled water to the people of Flint, Michigan.”
The ILA will seek donations from its membership and locals to purchase and ship bottled water to Flint. President Daggett appointed International General Organizer John Baker, a native of Cleveland, Ohio and William Yockey, ILA International Vice President from Michigan, to coordinate the water collection and distribution efforts. Michael J. Vigneron, President, Atlantic Coast District and Alan Robb, President, South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District, will also help lead this effort.
“Our ILA membership is ready to rally around families in Flint, Michigan,” said President Daggett. “Young children are among the residents getting deathly sick from the drinking water there. It’s a national disgrace how the crisis has been handled and investigations into this neglect should be conducted. But for now, the people there need water and the ILA is going to do everything in its power to get it to them.”
The ILA represents 65,000 waterfront workers at all major East and Gulf Coast ports from Maine to Texas, U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes Region, major U.S. rivers, Eastern Canada and Puerto Rico.