To my fellow Maritime Workers across the globe,
Two years ago, at the ILA’s Quadrennial Convention in Hollywood, Florida, I stood before the world and issued a stern warning: Do not underestimate the Maritime Unions of the world! That message wasn’t my grandstanding. It was a call to action, a declaration that the days of quietly accepting job-killing automation are over.
This coming November 5th and 6th, we will gather in Lisbon, Portugal, for the first ever Global Anti-Automation Conference, and I could not be prouder. This conference is not just a response, it is the fulfillment of a vision I’ve held for decades.
My journey with this fight began in the late 1980s when I traveled overseas with a few ILA colleagues to inspect what was being promoted as an “automated container terminal.” We were stunned. For the first time in my ILA career, I saw machines doing the jobs of longshore workers, replacing people, not assisting them. A fellow officer turned to me and asked, “Do you think this will ever come to the U.S.?” I replied, “I sure hope not!” But in my gut, I knew we had just seen the beginning.
From that moment forward, I made it my life’s mission to stand against automation that eliminates jobs. Critics have accused me of resisting innovation, but that’s simply not true. I’ve worked for years with marine terminal operators to support technological advancements, when they are designed to help workers, not replace them. I support technologies that improve safety, increase efficiency, and empower the ILA workforce. But I will never support technology that aims to make us extinct. Never! The proof is in the results: if I hadn’t been willing to adapt to the right kinds of technology, those that keep people at the center of the operation, there’s no way the terminals in my home port of New York and New Jersey would be hitting record volumes year after year. The volumes and throughput speak for themselves. It’s clear you can embrace progress without sacrificing workers, and we’ve done exactly that.
For decades, I’ve stressed to the ILA and all maritime labor: if we don’t fight back, we’ll have nothing to leave the next generation. My father’s generation fought tooth and nail for every gain that we still enjoy today. They faced hardship, walked picket lines, and made sure we had a future worth inheriting. Now it’s our turn to do the same. These companies, built on the backs of all maritime workers, are now trying to grow by eliminating the very people who built them. We will not allow that to happen!
As International President of the ILA, I could not and would not allow our members to be impacted by this unchecked wave of automation. I knew that if we didn’t take a stand, the very foundation of our union, and everything generations before us had fought for, would be at risk. What followed was a historic coastwide strike from Maine to Texas, a bold and unified response that sent a clear message to the employers and the world: the ILA will never be a bystander while jobs are eliminated and our jurisdiction is erased. We stood firm, shoulder to shoulder, just like our ancestors did before us, those who walked picket lines, who risked everything so we could have a future. That spirit still burns strong in us today, and we proved that when pushed back, we will rise and fight back with unwavering resolve.
When I promised to build an international alliance of maritime unions to fight this global threat, I meant it. I asked the International Dockworkers Council to stand with me. Together, we chose Lisbon for this historic conference because of the incredible resilience shown by the Portuguese dockworkers of the SEAL Union, who stood strong through a five-year strike. Five years without giving in to corporate greed. The sacrifice they endured moved me deeply, and the respect I hold for them is immeasurable. Hosting this conference in Lisbon is a tribute to their courage and a reminder of what unity and conviction can achieve.
I’m nearing 60 years as a proud ILA member. I’ve dedicated my life to securing better wages and benefits, safer working conditions, and protections against job-killing automation, not just for our members, but for dockworkers everywhere. At this stage of my life, my fight is no longer about me or my generation. It’s about ensuring that the next generation has a future in this industry, a future they can be proud of. Just like I was when I first started on the docks in the late 1960s, full of pride to be a Longshoreman and a member of the ILA. That same pride should live on in the generations to come, and it’s our duty to make sure the industry we pass down is one they can believe in and build a life around.
That’s why I personally asked the IDC to coordinate with every maritime union worldwide for this summit, to bring our shared experiences, strategies, and resolve together in one place. This is about more than just maritime workers. It’s bigger than that. The automation agenda is creeping into every corner of our economy, from transportation to retail to logistics, and it threatens not only our jobs but the very fabric of our communities. The small businesses that depend on our wages, the neighborhoods built around working-class families, and the sense of stability that honest labor provides are all at risk. We must lead the way, showing the world what’s truly at stake, not just for us, but for everyone. And if the maritime union’s has to take the lead in this global fight for dignity, jobs, and justice, then so be it. We are ready!
To every maritime worker across the globe: join me in this fight. The time is now!
After decades of standing on the front lines, I am incredibly proud to see this alliance of maritime workers come together in solidarity and strength. What began as a vision years ago has now become a reality, and this first ever Global Anti-Automation Conference in Lisbon stands as proof that we are united, determined, and ready. I hope and pray for a powerful and successful conference, and I look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with each of you. It’s been a long journey, but the time has come for our voices to rise as one.
In Solidarity,
Harold J. Daggett
International President
International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA)