Education

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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.

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ILA Education/History

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 Galveston, TX

THE INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN’S ASSOCIATION RAILROAD GANG IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS

THE RAILROAD GANG

ILA Local 1504-8 out of Galveston is known as the Railroad Gang!

ILA local 1504-8 was chartered in 1933 in Galveston Texas as the warehouse jurisdiction of the port.

Local 1504-8 were called warehousemen from the 1930s to the mid-1990s.
The warehousemen supplied all deep sea locals with bagged goods. The name “Railroad Gangers” is what the port and the town called the men that would unload the box cars.

One railroad gang consisted of
1 forklift driver & 4 pickup men….
and there were over 100 gangs hired per day!!

During the 1980’s…..Local 1504 merged with 1308 and that’s where the “dash eight” comes in at the end.

Thank you ILA Local 1504-8 President Rodney Priestley

We are the International longshoremen’s association
Established 1892

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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Port of Galveston, TX 

THE INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN’S ASSOCIATION RAILROAD GANG IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS 

THE RAILROAD GANG 

ILA Local 1504-8 out of Galveston is known as the Railroad Gang!

ILA local 1504-8 was chartered in 1933 in Galveston Texas as the warehouse jurisdiction of the port. 

Local 1504-8 were called warehousemen from the 1930s to the mid-1990s. 
The warehousemen supplied all deep sea locals with bagged goods. The name “Railroad Gangers” is what the port and the town called the men that would unload the box cars.

One railroad gang consisted of
1 forklift driver & 4 pickup men….
and there were over 100 gangs hired per day!! 

During the 1980’s…..Local 1504 merged with 1308 and that’s where the “dash eight” comes in at the end. 

Thank you ILA Local 1504-8 President Rodney Priestley 

We are the International longshoremen’s association 
Established 1892

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation

7 CommentsComment on Facebook

You deserve all your flowers Prez Congratulations

Thank you, my brother. You definitely do a great job.

💪🏾💪🏾

🫡

💯✌🏽😎

What a history!

We used to be 1544

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ILA local 1814 member Stephen librera raises the colors of our nation and 1814 banner up at the Empire Wind 1 Project in the Brooklyn Marine Terminal

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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ILA local 1814 member Stephen librera raises the colors of our nation and 1814 banner up at the Empire Wind 1 Project in the Brooklyn Marine Terminal 

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation

3 CommentsComment on Facebook

ILA Strong 💪 🇺🇸 💪

Go Union

Right on brother 💪🏼⚓️🦅🇺🇸

Galveston, TX

SAGCD CONVENTION TAKES PLACE JULY 27-30 IN GALVESTON, TX

ILA South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District President Alan Robb welcomes delegates, members and guests to the 93rd Quadrennial Convention Scheduled For July 27-30, 2026, In Galveston, Texas;
International ILA President Harold J. Daggett Will Headline Opening Day Speakers

Final preparations are being made by the leaders of the International Longshoremen’s Association South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District who will convene their 93rd Quadrennial Convention to be held at the Galveston Convention Center at The San Luis Resort and Spa in Galveston, Texas from Monday, July 27 through Thursday, July 30, 2026.
Hundreds of delegates and guests are expected to attend the four-day convention at the ILA’s port city of Galveston, Texas, according to Alan A. Robb, the President of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District and Convention Chairman.
International ILA President Harold J. Daggett will address delegates at the opening session on Monday, July 27th after the J.H. “Buddy” Raspberry Bell, named in honor of the late ILA South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District President, is rung by ILA retirees as the official start of the convention.
The Honorable John Listowski, Mayor of Galveston and Rodge Rees, Galveston Port Director will each welcome convention delegates and guests to the City of Galveston, Texas.
ILA International Officers Dennis A. Daggett (Executive Vice President) and Stephen Knott (Secretary-Treasurer) will address the 93rd Quadrennial Convention opening session along with Paul DeMaria, Charman and CEO, United States Maritime Alliance.
“We are very proud to have our International President Harold Daggett open our convention,” said District President Robb. “ILA District Delegates and guests will be treated to an impressive list of speakers throughout our four days convention. We also have important convention business, including resolutions and the elections of officers.”

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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Galveston, TX

SAGCD CONVENTION TAKES PLACE JULY 27-30 IN GALVESTON, TX 

ILA South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District President Alan Robb welcomes delegates, members and guests to the 93rd Quadrennial Convention Scheduled For July 27-30, 2026, In Galveston, Texas; 
International ILA President Harold J. Daggett Will Headline Opening Day Speakers

Final preparations are being made by the leaders of the International Longshoremen’s Association South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District who will convene their 93rd Quadrennial Convention to be held at the Galveston Convention Center at The San Luis Resort and Spa in Galveston, Texas from Monday, July 27 through Thursday, July 30, 2026.
 Hundreds of delegates and guests are expected to attend the four-day convention at the ILA’s port city of Galveston, Texas, according to Alan A. Robb, the President of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District and Convention Chairman.
 International ILA President Harold J. Daggett will address delegates at the opening session on Monday, July 27th after the J.H. “Buddy” Raspberry Bell, named in honor of the late ILA South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District President, is rung by ILA retirees as the official start of the convention.
 The Honorable John Listowski, Mayor of Galveston and Rodge Rees, Galveston Port Director will each welcome convention delegates and guests to the City of Galveston, Texas. 
 ILA International Officers Dennis A. Daggett (Executive Vice President) and Stephen Knott (Secretary-Treasurer) will address the 93rd Quadrennial Convention opening session along with Paul DeMaria, Charman and CEO, United States Maritime Alliance.
 “We are very proud to have our International President Harold Daggett  open our convention,” said District President Robb. “ILA District Delegates and guests will be treated to an impressive list of speakers throughout our four days convention.  We also have important convention business, including resolutions and the elections of officers.”

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation

5 CommentsComment on Facebook

He resembles Johnny Gindville!

Good luck for your convention Sisters and Brothers of the mighty ILA!

Talk about the men in Charleston who are loosing their jobs because of the closing of HLT

🫡💪🏾

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ILA Planning To Follow-up Successful 2025 Anti-Automation Summit In Lisbon, Portugal and Bring Global Maritime Unions Together at Conferences in the Fall 2026 and at International Convention in July 2027. International Longshore & Warehouse Union Canada also plans an International Dock Workers Anti-Automation Summit September 21 to 24, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
“The threat is real - automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are expanding in too many industries,” said ILA President Harold Daggett. “Maritime unions must unite, to build on the success of our initial Anti-Automation Summit in Lisbon, Portugal and keep automation off our docks.”

Jordi Aragunde Miguens.
... See MoreSee Less

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

Go Union

Maritime industry Is The key 🔑People Over Profit. Dockers Won't Accept Automation 👎🏾👎🏾United We Stand!!! ✊🏾✊🏾💪🏾

Port of NJ/NJ

Heavy rain dumps down on Maher Terminals as storms roll through at Port Newark, NJ on this Saturday of July 18, 2026.

Stay safe ILA Sisters and Brothers!

Photo Credit:
Steven Cooke
ILA Local 1804-1
Thank You!
Int'l Longshoremen's Stephen Chri#InternationalLongshoremensAssociationssociation
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Port of NJ/NJ

Heavy rain dumps down on Maher Terminals as storms roll through at Port Newark, NJ on this Saturday of July 18, 2026. 

Stay safe ILA Sisters and Brothers! 

Photo Credit:
Steven Cooke 
ILA Local 1804-1
Thank You!
Intl Longshoremens Stephen Christopher 

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation

10 CommentsComment on Facebook

Make u Y/Z cards SHAPE!!!

Rain sleet or snow!

Stay safe

Got to keep moving!!!!🤙🇺🇸🤘🍷🍷

Be careful out there

Be safe

I’m in bed all day after yesterday wipe me plain out

Go Union

Be safe

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Port of Galveston, TX
Circa early 1900’s

Longshoremen travel by boat to begin their days work at the Port of Galveston, Texas around 1900-1910s.

Photo Credit:
DeGolyer Library
Southern Methodist University.
Thank You!!

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
... See MoreSee Less

Port of Galveston, TX
Circa early 1900’s 

Longshoremen travel by boat to begin their days work at the Port of Galveston, Texas around 1900-1910s.

Photo Credit:
DeGolyer Library
Southern Methodist University.
Thank You!!

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation

3 CommentsComment on Facebook

port of Galveston... 2022

Pushing these windmill blades outta here.

Port of NY/NJ

WILDFIRE SMOKE FROM CANADA PUSHES AIR QUALITY TO DANGEROUS LEVELS FOR MILLIONS

Dense smoke from Canadian wildfires is choking a vast stretch of the Northeast and Upper Midwest sections of the United States.
Longshoremen have felt the effects of the smoke at several ILA ports up and down the east coast.
In photograph is a smoke-filled APM Terminal at Port Elizabeth, NJ.

**STAY SAFE ILA SISTERS AND BROTHERS**

Photo Credit:
Mike Scheck
ILA Local 1804-1
APM Reefer
Thank You!

Int’l Longshoremen’s Mike Scheck

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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Port of NY/NJ

WILDFIRE SMOKE FROM CANADA PUSHES AIR QUALITY TO DANGEROUS LEVELS FOR MILLIONS 

Dense smoke from Canadian wildfires is choking a vast stretch of the Northeast and Upper Midwest sections of the United States. 
Longshoremen have felt the effects of the smoke at several ILA ports up and down the east coast. 
In photograph is a smoke-filled APM Terminal at Port Elizabeth, NJ.

**STAY SAFE ILA SISTERS AND BROTHERS**

Photo Credit:
Mike Scheck 
ILA Local 1804-1 
APM Reefer 
Thank You!

Int’l Longshoremen’s Mike Scheck 

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation

7 CommentsComment on Facebook

I was the Forman for Santaniello electric building those reefer racks and 480V outlet boxes. Also installed those high mast lights.

Thanks for the Smoke Canada !

Ciao da Genova..

Go Union

Kanadians are crybabies hope Trump takes every last cent of KorruptKarneys and holds it up in the courts for the next decade! Thank you America DJT and 🙏

Great lakes ports are terrible.

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Port of NY/NJ

Lady Liberty stands tall and proud with the cranes of Port Liberty Container Terminal and Bayonne Bridge in the distance.
Bayonne, NJ

We are the International Longshoremen’s Association
Established 1892

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
... See MoreSee Less

Port of NY/NJ

Lady Liberty stands tall and proud with the cranes of Port Liberty Container Terminal and Bayonne Bridge in the distance.
Bayonne, NJ 

We are the International Longshoremen’s Association 
Established 1892 

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

Awesome picture! Great job as always my brother!

Great picture. I wish I could photo shop that statue onto Port of Boston pictures.

Beautiful 💗

Home ❤️

San Juan, Puerto Rico

On this day in 2015, Michael Vigneron is unanimously elected President of the Atlantic Coast District at their 35th Quadrennial Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In photograph, left to right, Michael Vigneron is congratulated by ILA Public Relations Director and longtime friend Jim McNamara.

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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San Juan, Puerto Rico

On this day in 2015, Michael Vigneron is unanimously elected President of the Atlantic Coast District at their 35th Quadrennial Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

In photograph, left to right, Michael Vigneron is congratulated by ILA Public Relations Director and longtime friend Jim McNamara.

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

Well deserved! Hell of a leader and a great person!

Hollywood, FL

REAGAN SPEAKS AT ILA CONVENTION
JULY 18, 1983

President Ronald Reagan addresses delegates, members and guests at the International Longshoremen’s Association Convention at The Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood, FL
July 18, 1983

In his opening remarks President Reagan said,
“I’ll tell you what I like about ILA President Teddy Gleason…he sticks by his union, he sticks by his friends and he sticks by his country.”

Please go to the following link to see President Reagan’s entire speech:

youtu.be/26OpbkgfZ_M?si=vt9exE4WYdHxEyv5

ilaunion.org/ila-history-1983-president-ronald-reagans-remarks-at-the-quadrennial-convention-of-t...

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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Hollywood, FL

REAGAN SPEAKS AT ILA CONVENTION
JULY 18, 1983

President Ronald Reagan addresses delegates, members and guests at the International Longshoremen’s Association Convention at The Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood, FL
July 18, 1983

In his opening remarks President Reagan said,
“I’ll tell you what I like about ILA President Teddy Gleason…he sticks by his union, he sticks by his friends and he sticks by his country.”

Please go to the following link to see President Reagan’s entire speech: 

https://youtu.be/26OpbkgfZ_M?si=vt9exE4WYdHxEyv5

https://ilaunion.org/ila-history-1983-president-ronald-reagans-remarks-at-the-quadrennial-convention-of-the-international-longshoremens-association-in-hollywood-florida/

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

My Grandfather Was One Of Several I.L.A. Vice-Presidents Who Escorted Him To The Podium...

I remember that day well he also attended our executive council meeting and we all got to meet him individually

Best president EVER

Regan was a union busting president just ask the air traffic controllers. I hate to say it but Trump has a better record supporting unions than Regan...just facts, and I'm not a trump supporter!!!

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