This education link has been set up to keep all ILA members informed of what’s 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
THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS
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Port of New Orleans
Circa early 1900’s
Longshoremen unloading a vessel full of produce at the Port of New Orleans sometime during the early 1900’s.
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I carried bananas for the Grace line on Pier 57 in the 50's and 60's. The operation was a bit more sophisticated by then. 🥸
The great white fleet. CHIQUITA
Bananas. Can be deadly. My dad new. S f. Retired. 1971
Way more now! Thank you for all the hard work. My husband is Retired ILA Containers Mechanic. Local 2046. Savannah, Ga
A MESSAGE FROM ILA INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT DENNIS A. DAGGETT:
“It’s Hard to Believe It’s Almost a Year Ago
As I look back at these photo’s from the ILA’s Coast Wide Strike last October, it’s hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that nearly a year has gone by. The memory still feels fresh. The energy. The unity. The unwavering determination. It was one of the most powerful moments I have ever witnessed and one that I’ll never forget.
Growing up, I constantly heard stories about the 1977 strike. Those stories weren’t just memories, they were legends in my eyes. I looked up to those men and women because they had the courage to stand up for what they believed was right and what they rightfully deserved. They risked everything to protect the future of our Union and our way of life.
Strikes are never easy. They’re not called lightly. When a Union calls a strike, it’s because every other option has been exhausted. It’s emotional. It’s tense. But it’s also a moment that defines who we are.
What I saw last year was an entire Union come together as one, shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, fighting for the dignity of our work, the security of our families, and the integrity of the agreements we fought so hard to achieve. That kind of solidarity doesn’t just happen. It comes from shared sacrifice, shared purpose, and a deep respect for the generations that came before us.
I am so proud of this Union. Proud of the men and women who stood tall. Proud of those who never backed down. Workers across the world are rising up, demanding fair treatment and basic respect. And the ILA is leading by example.
Some companies understood the seriousness of the moment. They didn’t want a strike. And when it ended, they were ready to get back to business. They saw the value in working together.
But unfortunately, there are others who still don’t get it. There are companies and even entire Ports who continue to show no respect for the workforce. They act as if they are above the law, above fairness, above the agreements signed and ratified in good faith between management and labor.
To them I say this, you have never encountered a Union as relentless and as determined as the ILA. We are not going away. We will not yield to pressure. We will not let you undermine what we have negotiated. You will come to understand just how strong, unified, and unshakable we are.
This is more than a contract. This is our culture. This is our identity. This is our livelihood.
And we will not stop until every employer, every terminal, and every port understands that it is always better to work with us than against us.
The pictures say it all. Unity. Strength. Pride. A sea of brothers and sisters refusing to be ignored.
To every ILA member who stood with us, who walked those lines, who carried those signs, who made history, I thank you. From the bottom of my heart. Your courage and loyalty will never be forgotten. Never!”
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Port of Charleston
Year unknown
Longshoremen move cotton from a railcar to get it ready to be exported at the Port of Charleston.
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💪
PortMiami, Fla 1416 UNION Proud!!⚓️⚓️✊🏾
Port of NY/NJ
IN ALL WEATHER, IN ALL CONDITIONS, THE ILA KEEPS THE WORLD MOVING
Incredible photograph shared to us by the ILA Local 1804-1 TIR chassis inspectors of lightning striking earlier this week at Maher Terminals in Port Elizabeth, NJ.
Thank you Shawn Lange and Scott Weiss
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Nice..Great pic...where is this exactly
I work right next door at APM Terminal
Down for lightening
Beauty of nature is simply breathtaking!
WE ARE DOWN FOR LIGHTNING .
Great pic!
Wooow Amazing
Here in savannah we stop working when it's lighting stay safe
Awesome, but dangerous...
Incredible shot 📸
Caught this one in Savannah, GA the other night
Go Union
Wow
All Ila members should take cover this is dangerous in the port Union will back us ILA1233/1235
Omg
Port of NY/NJ
ILA EDUCATION AND TRAINING
**WOMEN OF THE ILA**
ILA Local 1588 Women on the Waterfront get training on how to operate hustlers at Port Liberty Container Terminal in Bayonne, NJ.
The WOMEN OF THE ILA never cease to amaze us all!!
In photograph, from left to right in the background, are ILA Local 1588 members:
Amina Phillips, Hailey Prince, Caitlin Rolon, Trinity Watson
With trainer Mirko Saric in the foreground.
**ILA PROUD**
**ILA STRONG**
Photo Credit:
Marc Santoro
ILA Local 1588 Secretary Treasurer
Thank You!!
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1588 Ladies 💪🏽💟❤️🔥
Love this!!
Awesome pics!
Awesome 👍🤙
Congrats ladies
Ila strong 💪 ❤️
Love it💪💕Get it Ladies💙💪💙🙌
Big up ladies #1408 ILA sista
Love the diversity 😘😘 KEEP IT UP LADIES!!!
God bless the ila
What a great picture
Saludos, desde el puerto del Callao
Local #20 Galveston,Tx that's where it's at!
ILA Strong Local 2046 Great work ladies
Love this! Keep making us ILA LADIES LOOKING GOOD! Keep it up! Proud of y’all! Good luck! 🍀
Shout out from local 28 , Houston finest
Me and my wife are moving to Texas and she wants to join who can point me into the right direction
Love this!
All in the family love that hat
Alot of new faces
My 1588 girls are ILA Women Strong 💪
💪
🫶
Port Miami
Amazing shot of the cruise capital of the world shared to us by the Port Miami social media pages.
Thank You!
The ILA helps millions and millions of cruise passengers get ready to sail all year round at Port Miami!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ILA SISTERS AND BROTHERS!!
GOD BLESS!!
BE SAFE!!
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I love the 305 ♥️
Yeah I worked that ship today
Nice view!
1416 we are ILA!!
DELEGATES COME TOGETHER AT THE INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN’S ASSOCIATION CONVENTION AT THE HOTEL GOVERNOR CLINTON IN NEW YORK CITY DURING THE 1940’S
(Notice “Popeye” in the front row)
⚓️⚓️⚓️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
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That looks like Popeye front left center!! 😂 Great pic!!
Everyone well groomed not looking like bums
Skinny Wilson
I believe that year my old man started on the docks
Good chance my grandfather was there.
Also note that this is an integrated crowd.
Great history!
Journal of Commerce
August 14, 2023
ILA CHIEF HAROLD J. DAGGETT APPEARS ON THE COVER OF THE AUGUST 14, 2023 EDITION OF THE JOURNAL OF COMMERCE
Two years ago today, ILA International President Harold J. Daggett is featured on the cover of the August 14th edition of the Journal of Commerce.
The now famous cover has been seen all over the world as its headline reads:
“READY FOR WAR
ILA flexes to fight on multiple fronts”
And how right they were because we all came together as a union and we were definitely ready for war!
Just over a year later on October 1, 2024, all ILA ports from Maine to Texas hit the streets and went on strike at the stroke of midnight.
It was an amazing display of solidarity!
On October 3, 2024, President Daggett and his negotiating team came to terms on a tentative six agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance that guaranteed ILA members a historic 62% raise with enhanced benefits and most importantly, job protections against automation.
Following the ratification from the ILA rank and file up and down the East and Gulf Coasts, the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance came together on March 11, 2025 and signed the master contract agreement that would be talked about at ports all over the world.
We thank you President Daggett for your leadership, your perseverance and your commitment to the 85,000 women and men of the ILA!!
The Journal of Commerce is a biweekly magazine published in the United States that focuses on global trade topics. The JOC was first published in 1827 in New York.
It provides editorial content to manage day-to-day international logistics and shipping needs, covering the areas of cargo and freight transportation, export and import, global transport logistics and trade, international supply chain management and US Customs regulations.
The International Longshoremen’s Association has been featured in the Journal of Commerce countless times since our great union was formed in 1892.
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A great leader 👏
We're still ready!!!
Thanks Harold Daggett for everything you’ve done for our great Union! You will go down in the history books as the Best Labor Leader ever!! 👍👍
The MAN and The LEGEND
Thank you Harold ! 💯💪🏻
Thank you for all your hard work Harold!
Hands down best leader in organized labor Rank and file be proud 💯💪
Thank you Harold!!!!
The Best!! Thank You for your unwavering Leadership Harold!💪🏻
With out a doubt the GOAT especially in this world of today
The GOAT 🐐
Love this! Harold Daggett made a statement and followed through, as he always does!
ILA STRONG LET GO
👏 👏
The Greatest!! Thank you Harold!💪🏼
Port of NY/NJ
**WOMEN OF THE ILA**
**ANN KAUFFMANN**
**ILA LOCAL 1235**
Please join us in congratulating ILA Local 1235 member Ann Kauffmann as she celebrates 30 years working on the docks at the Port of NY/NJ!
Congratulations!!
A message from Sister Ann Kauffmann:
“This year makes 30 years that I have been honored to be a member of ILA Local 1235. Has it been easy?….No!
But, I wouldn’t trade a millisecond of it. To all my ILA brothers and sisters, I love you. You have always been my second family, and the piers, my second home. To all the old timers who helped me back when women were an oddity down here, I love you, thank you. I’m still here. ❤️ To all the ones who told me I didn’t belong here, I guess I proved you wrong!
Just like I told you so long ago.
Here’s to the next 6 1/2 years. ❤️🥂❤️
CONGRATULATIONS!!
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That’s awesome!! Congratulations!!
GRADUATIONS
Congratulations 🎈🎊🎉
A huge congratulations to you, Ann! Your perseverance is truly admirable.
Congratulations 🎊 👏
Huge congratulations to Ann Kauffmann on her 30-year milestone! May her dedication and perseverance inspire many more!💕💪🫶🙏
Congratulations 👍
Congratulations 🎉
Congrats Ann. You’re the woman!
Congratulations Annie!!
Congratulations!
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations! 🎉
Great work! Can’t wait until I can say to the next 6 and 1/2 more years! 1604 got its first woman worker about 8 years ago or so. And she’s doing just fine.
Congratulations
I’m going on 20 years I love it ❤️
Congratulations
Congratulations!!
Congratulations!
Love this ❤️
Congratulations 👏👏
Congrats!🍾
Congratulations sweetie 🎉💪🏼❤️
U work at Sealand
Congratulations 🍾 ❤️