ILA’s William “Billy” Hartigan To Be Honored With 2024 Irish Echo Labor Leader Award; Local 1804-1 Business Agent and ITF Representative Receives Award Sept. 6 in NYC
NORTH BERGEN, NJ – (August 12, 2024) William “Billy” Hartigan, Business Agent for Local 1804-1, International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), and international labor activist who in recent years has mobilized global dockworkers to unite in successful labor and organizing campaigns, will receive the 2024 Irish Labor Award from the Irish Echo Newspaper.
Hundreds of ILA Longshore officers and members are expected to be present at the Edison Hotel Ballroom in Manhattan on Friday, September 6, 2024, from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm when Billy Hartigan is recognized with the Irish Labor Award.
“On behalf of the officers and 85,000 members of the ILA, I congratulate Billy Hartigan on this most deserved honor by the Irish Echo Newspaper,” said International President Harold J. Daggett. “Billy is a valuable member of our ILA team and has distinguished himself with ILA Local 1804-1 and the entire International.”
New York State Comptroller Tom DeNapoli will be the featured speaker at the sold-out event.
The 14th Annual Irish Echo Labor Awards will honor the Labor Leaders of 2024, with Billy Hartigan being among them, at the Edison Hotel Ballroom at 240 West 47th Street in New York City.
Hartigan embarked on his ILA journey in 1998 as a member of ILA local 1804-1 in the port of New York and New Jersey. Billy began his career at the ILA health clinic in Manhattan, later transitioning to Maher Terminals in Port Elizabeth, NJ, where he served as a facility maintenance mechanic and TIR inspector.
Over nearly two decades, he contributed significantly, eventually becoming Master Foremen/Part-time Shop Steward for his Local. In 2019, Billy was unanimously elected as the business agent of Local 1804-1, concurrently representing the ILA as the union’s representative with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF).
Notably, he played a pivotal role in organizing rallies and industrial actions during the ILA’s jurisdictional dispute with wind developer Orsted. In addition to his work with the ILA, Billy has actively participated in joint campaigns with the ITF and the International Dockworkers Council. Billy Hartigan helped spearhead a study on 5G and artificial intelligence to get a better understanding of the threat of automation on workers.
He currently resides in Red Bank, NJ, where he shares his life with his wife, Kathryn and their three beautiful daughters.