This education link has been set up to keep all ILA members informed of whatโs taking place in our industry; past and present. This site will include articles, stories, photographs and videos. At times, some of the videos will include training and be educational. Other times, we will take a look into our past and learn more and more about the history of this union and how it was built into what it is today.
ILA Education/History
OFFICIAL ILA EDUCATION/HISTORY PAGE ENDORSED BY OUR INTERNATIONAL
Never forget the sacrifices ILA members made to build our great union into what it is today
Port of Charleston
ILA Local 1771 President Lance McLaughlin welcomes the clerks and checkers at the Port of Charleston to their monthly membership meeting on June 16, 2026.
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Port of NY/NJ
Port Botany, Australia
MUA VISITS ILA AT MAHER TERMINALS AT PORT NEWARK, NJ
Australian port visit at Maher terminal took place on June 16, 2026 led by Maritime Union of Australia member Josh Teale, who is the maintenance delegate out of Port Botany, Patrickโs Terminal in Sydney, Australia.
ILA Local 1804-1 Business Agent Billy Hartigan was joined by Master Foremen Patrick Kelly and Bobby Rispoli (both of ILA Local 1804-1) as they walked them through the inspection process and educated them about our Port of Discovery system the ILA uses to track damages on containers.
They toured the power, strad and crane shops and met some of the rank and file maintenance workers.
Josh Teale was able to sit in the crane simulator Maher Terminals uses for training ILA members.
At the end of the day, Richie McCoy, crane foreman and Bobby Rispoli brought them up on the actual crane the ILA members use to keep commerce moving around the world.
The Maritime Union of Australia is among the strongest and most active, rank-and-file led trade unions across Australia.
Tracing its roots back to 1872, for well over a century the MUA has fought for workers' rights, entitlements, and the common good.
The MUA has 17,000 members and is the union for those working in industries such as:
-Port services and container terminals
-Stevedoring
-Shipping
-Seafaring
-Offshore oil and gas industries
-Ferries
-Diving
Thank you Billy Hartigan for forwarding us the photographs and contributing to this story.
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Thank you to Billy, Bobby and all that showed us such great warmth and hospitality. I don’t know how you all work at these heights everyday and admire the work you do. As someone who is scared of heights and did not let go of the rails ๐ I will never forget this experience.
Thanks to William Hartigan and Bobby for making today happen. Grateful for the hospitality they showed as always and allowed myself, my wife and some friends to have a close up look at our industry in ๐บ๐ธ. Solidarity with the ILA.
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โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ
Longshoremen welcome Statue of Liberty as she arrives on the docks of New York Harbor 141 years ago
June 17, 1885, the dismantled Statue of Liberty, a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of America, arrives in New York Harbor after being shipped across the Atlantic Ocean in 350 individual pieces packed in more than 200 cases. The copper and iron statue, which was reassembled and dedicated the following year in a ceremony presided over by U.S. President Grover Cleveland, became known around the world as an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy.
Intended to commemorate the American Revolution, the abolition of slavery, following the U.S. Civil War, and a century of friendship between the U.S. and France, the statue was designed by French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, with assistance from engineer Gustave Eiffel, who later developed the iconic tower in Paris bearing his name. The statue was initially scheduled to be finished by 1876, the 100th anniversary of Americaโs Declaration of Independence.
Finally completed in Paris in the summer of 1884, the statue, a robed female figure with an uplifted arm holding a torch, reached its new home on Bedloeโs Island in New York Harbor on June 17, 1885. After being reassembled, the 450,000-pound statue was officially dedicated on October 28, 1886, by President Cleveland. Standing more than 305 feet from the foundation of its pedestal to the top of its torch, the statue, dubbed โLiberty Enlightening the Worldโ by Bartholdi, was taller than any structure in New York City at the time.
In 1892, Ellis Island, located near Bedloeโs Island (which in 1956 was renamed Liberty Island), opened as Americaโs chief immigration station, and for the next 62 years Lady Liberty, as the statue is nicknamed, stood watch over the more than 12 million immigrants who sailed into New York Harbor.
Today, the Statue of Liberty is one of Americaโs most famous landmarks. Over the years, it has been the site of political rallies and protests, has been featured in numerous movies and countless photographs, and has received millions of visitors from around the globe.
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7 CommentsComment on Facebook
So Amazing
Thank you for this story, very interesting. ๏ฟผ
Incredible!
Very cool!๐ค
WOW.
History
Bedminster, NJ
ILA LOCAL 1 GOLF OUTING
ILA Local 1 President David Cicalese welcomes delegates, members and guests to their annual golf outing at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, NJ.
All proceeds from the golf outing will go towards the Local 1 scholarship fund.
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
IDC TO HOST ITS 10TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN RIO DE JANEIRO IN NOVEMBER 2026
The International Dockworkers Council will be hosting its 10th General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 17-19, 2026.
The International Dockworkers Council (IDC) is an association formed by organizations and unions of dockworkers from around the world.
Under the direction of ILA International President Harold J. Daggett, The International Longshoremenโs Association officially joined the IDC in 2011.
The IDC was officially founded on 27 June 2000, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands.
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Juntos trabajadores del mundo, a defender nuestra fuente de trabajo y nuestra identidad !
Let us come together, workers of the world, let us defend our work and our identity!
Port of Philadelphia
October 16, 1962
ILA members gather as they wait for a union meeting to commence near Pier 4 at the Port of Philadelphia during the fall of 1962.
We are the International Longshoremenโs Association and we honor, respect and recognize all who came before us that built our incredible union into to what we all have today.
Established 1892.
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โ๏ธ ๐บ๐ธ
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RESPECT THE STARS AND STRIPES
FLAG DAY
JUNE 14, 2026
Flag Day has been celebrated in the United States since 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation that designated June 14 Flag Day.
This U.S. flag waves high and proud along with the ILA Local 1804-1 flag at Port Newark Container Terminal in Newark, NJ.
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3 CommentsComment on Facebook
God bless America ๐บ๐ธ
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Right on I agree
Port Miami
ILA Local 1588 members proudly come together to support ILA International Vice President Virgil Maldonado on the evening he is recognized and honored at the โNight in Whiteโ at Port Miami.
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Now that’s a nice dam picture people!! New money with a smile !!
Together As One ๐น
Very cool guys ๐ช๐ช
Looking good!!
Lookin good my Brothers!! ๐๐
Looking great!
Congratulations to my friend Virgil Maldonado
Love this!!!
โ๐ซถ
“A Class Act”… ๐ฏ
Looking good brothers!!
Good looking โบ๏ธ
Congratulations to ILA International Vice President on your well-deserved recognition!
Yikes.
Port of Savannah
ILA Local 1414 Business Agents Ferguson and Johnson are out on the port keeping members hydrated on this day at the Port of Savannah when the temperatures topped out into the 90โs.
Today, ILA Local 1414 dispatched 30 gangs for container vessels.
It was 90 degrees in the Port City of Savannah, GA and the Business Agents of ILA Local 1414, Terrius Ferguson and Ahmad Johnson, were out serving the longshoremen and longshorewomen with cold Gatorade and water.
โPeople ask us why we love our position. Truth is, itโs bigger than sitting behind a desk or speaking at a microphone. Itโs about showing up, serving, and caring for the men and women who work day and night in this heat.โ
Thatโs what leadership looks like!
Terrius Ferguson and Ahmad Johnson
ILA Local 1414 Business Agents
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54 CommentsComment on Facebook
90 my butt, it was hot af out there today,
That savannah heat ain’t no joke #2046
30 gangs?? Wow
That's right ILA ๐ฅฐ๐ฅฐ
It was 98 with 108 heat index
Heat index ranged from 105 to 114 today in Savannah !!! Way to go gentlemen!! Definitely much needed on the docks !
My favorite business agents!! Way to go guys
Love that it takes a village to do the job 1414
Great Job
Standing ovation we put the right persons in the seat. Keep up the good work.
Im ready ๐ฏ im coming this year ๐ช
Love yall BB'S s๐ช
Yall should’ve sent us some while we were up there lashing.๐๐ช๐ฟโค๏ธ BB (Beyond Blessed) ๐ซกThank you guys for your service.
Awesome.1414
Unsung heroes of our area!! ๐๐ผ TY
Yes ๐๐พ ๐๐พ๐๐พ
So hot
ILA2046ALLTHEWAY
The crew worked a RORO at CST in Charleston on Saturday. Idk how they did it in that heat. Everyone please be safe out there on the docks!
Awesome Leadership ๐
Fasho, Hot, Cold, raining, freezing, longshoremen are out there,I.L.A strong
Team work definitely makes the dream work ๐๐ฝ๐ช๐ฝ๐๐ฝ๐ฏ
Union STRONG ๐ช๐ฝ... Awesome Job ๐๐พ
Love builds TEAMS and FAMILY….we need more of this from all off us so not just our ILA TEAM/FAMILY can grow stronger but our community can grow stronger…great job young KINGS ๐ซก๐ฏ
May God continue to cover and Bless us all , Amen ๐๐พ Amen ๐๐พ ๐ช๐ช๐ช
Miami, FL
ILA INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT VIRGIL MALDONADO TO BE HONORED AT THE A. PHILIP RANDOLPH INSTITUTE MIAMI DADE CHAPTER SCHOLARSHIP DINNER
Please join us in congratulating ILA International Vice President and Executive Council Member Virgil Maldonado as he will lead an impressive list of honorees this weekend at the A. Philip Randolph Institute Miami-Dade Chapter โClarence Pittman, Jr. Scholarship Dinner-Dance Night in Whiteโ to be held at the Biscayne Bay Marriott in Miami, Florida. Virgil Maldonado is a 29-year veteran with the International Longshoremenโs Association and has served as President of ILA Local 1588, out of Bayonne, NJ, since 2010.
The Night In White celebration helps raise funds for the โClarnece Pittman, Jr. Scholarship Fund.โ Named in honor of the legendary ILA leader and long-time president of ILA Local 1416 in Miami who passed away in December 2013, the Clarence Pittman Jr. Scholarship Fund had presented over $200,000 in educational scholarship grants to deserving students in the South Florida.
Virgil Maldonado is the proud father of his three beautiful daughters Madison, Ava and Skylar.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
In photographs:
1. Virgil Maldonado speaks to ILA members during ILA Strike on October 1, 2024.
2. Virgil Maldonado stands proud with ILA International President Harold J. Daggett.
3. Going back to where it all started for him, Virgil Maldonado takes a seat in the new cranes at Port Liberty in Bayonne, NJ
4. Always heavily involved in the community, Virgil Maldonado proudly waves the ILA flag at the Puerto Rico Day Parade in 2025.
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27 CommentsComment on Facebook
Congratulations ๐ brother
Congratulations brother!You well deserved!!๐ช๐
Congratulations Virgil !!
Congratulations brother!
Congratulations Virgil !! Well deserved
Congrats Virgil well deserved!!
Huge Congratulations Virgil! ๐๐
Top tier One hell of a human Congrats boss ๐๐ป
Congratulations Brother ๐ With Mr Daggett in concurrence !!!!!
Congratulations Virgil!!
Congratulations!!
Congratulations Brother!!
Congratulations Virgil, well deserved brother ๐
Congratulations ๐พ
Congratulations Virgil ๐
Congratulations Virgil, well deserved ๐
Congratulations Brother!!
Congrats Brother
Now that’s a standup human being right there! Hell of a labor leader too! Congratulations my brother! Love you pal
Hell yeah brother! Keep up the good work we are behind you ๐ฏ
Congratulations brother! Well deserved!
Well deserved, Brother!
Congratulations my friend well deserved ๐