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
Port of NY/NJ
MAERSK UNIVERSAL
PORT NEWARK, NJ
1996
ILA Local 1804-1 members, left to right, Gerard Jordan, Joe Griff and Al Jordan welcome the newly built Regina Maersk vessel, out of the Odense shipyard in Aarhus, Denmark, to Universal at Port Newark, NJ.
The groundbreaking post-Panamax container ship launched on January 10, 1996, which was the world’s largest container ship at the time (6,000–6,400 TEU).
Today, there are container ships that can hold four times that amount of TEU.
As of January 2024, the record for the largest container ship is held by MSC’s Irina-class with the capacity of 24,346 TEU.
Thank you ILA Local 1804-1 Vice President John Daggett for sharing this photograph with us.
Int'l Longshoremen's Local 1804-1 BLAZE
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Port of Philadelphia
SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW….LIGHTNING BOLTS CAN BE SEEN AT THE PORT OF PHILADELPHIA
Amazing photograph taken this afternoon in the aftermath of a hail storm that hit Packer Avenue at the Port of Philadelphia.
The International Longshoremen’s Association moves cargo in all kinds of weather conditions from Maine to Texas, the Great Lakes, Puerto Rico, Eastern Canada and the Bahamas.
Photo Credit:
Anthony Archangelo, ILA Local 1242, Clerks and Checkers
Port of Philadelphia
Thank You!
Anthony Archangelo
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Cool pic
Our work environment in one picture I love it
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
IDC 10TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
The 10th General Assembly of the International Dockworkers Council (IDC) will take place from November 17–19, 2026, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the Othon Palace Copacabana Hotel.
IDC General Coordinator Dennis A. Daggett (who also serves as Executive Vice President of the International Longshoremen’s Association) and IDC Labor Coordinator Jordi Aragunde will welcome hundreds of delegates, labor leaders and guests to the Othon Palace Copacabana Hotel in Rio de Janeiro next week for the International Dockworkers Council 10th General Assembly.
• Attendees: Hundreds of delegates, union leaders, and activists representing roughly 165,000 dockworkers worldwide across every continent.
• Core Focus: Addressing industry automation, safeguarding jobs, and building international union solidarity under the theme that dockworkers must help shape the future of ports.
The International Dockworkers Council (IDC) is an association formed by organizations of dockworkers from around the world.
The IDC was born out of a dockworkers dispute that took place in Liverpool, England during the 1990’s.
The IDC was officially founded on June 27, 2000, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands.
The video is from an IDC meeting that took place in May of 2024 in Liverpool, England.
@ilaunion @ilasagcd @idc_dockers @ddag21 @jordi_aragunde
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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Port of NY/NJ
ILA Local 920 prepares helicopters for transport at Port Liberty Container Terminal in Staten Island, NY
Special military helicopters that a company retrofits to fight fires were landed at Port Liberty Container Terminal in Staten Island, NY this past Saturday, November 7, 2026.
ILA Local 920 Foreman Angelo Spano along with yard Foremen Rob Anger and Anthony Forte members of the chassis department ran the operations of removing the helicopter blades so they can be loaded for transport.
There is a special staging area where the pilots land the helicopters and then ILA members take the blades off and cradle them for loading onto a ship or load out onto a truck to be taken away. It’s a special company that retrofits helicopters to fight fires.
**ILA….UNSTOPPABLE**
Photo Credit:
ILA Local 920 Shop Steward Tim O’Neill
Thank You!
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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Pretty neat. We have had a heli land on our brow for transport before
Us lashing of the choppers before tightening it.. 💪💪💪💪
Thank you to all my guys for helping to make it smooth and safe 1814 powershop 👍🏻💪🏻
I miss that about working there. ILA ALL THE WAY
ILA HANDLES IT ALL! ILA💪🇺🇸
Nice
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ILA/IDC LEADERS TO HEADLINE A LIST OF DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS AT THE INTERNATIONAL DOCKWORKERS COUNCIL 10TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
The 10th General Assembly of the International Dockworkers Council (IDC) will take place from November 17–19, 2026, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the Othon Palace Copacabana Hotel.
IDC General Coordinator Dennis A. Daggett, who also serves as Executive Vice President of the International Longshoremen’s Association, and IDC Labor Coordinator Jordi Aragunde will open the IDC General Assembly on November 18, 2026 by addressing hundreds of delegates and guests from around the world.
ILA International President Harold J. Daggett will address the delegation on Day 2 of the General Assembly.
• Attendees: Hundreds of delegates, union leaders, and activists representing roughly 165,000 dockworkers worldwide across every continent.
Int'l Longshoremen's ILA South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District Harold Daggett Dennis A. Daggett Jordi Aragunde Miguens
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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Thank you together we are stronger 💪
Looking Forward to this huge and most necessary event. See everyone there. Safe Travels to all!!! True Union Solidarity Baby!!!❤️💪
Awesome leadership ILA strong💪
Way to go ILA all the way🇺🇸🇧🇷💪
You made it happen 💪
Go ILA STAY STRONG 💪
This is quite a TEAM.. A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH, I am glad to be rank and file under this leadership!
Can't wait! #GlobalSolidarity
💪🏻💪🏻
Go Union
The International Longshoremen’s Association honors our Veterans on this November 11, 2026
Int'l Longshoremen's ILA South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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Thank you. Honorably discharged, go Navy😎🤟
Port of Savannah
SEAPORT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION WILL CELEBRATE ITS GRAND OPENING AT THE PORT OF SAVANNAH ON DECEMBER 1, 2026
Please come by to the Seaport Federal Credit Union’s newest branch at their GRAND OPENING at the Port of Savannah on December 1, 2026.
221 NE. Lathrop Avenue
Savannah, GA 31415
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 10am
The International Longshoremen’s Association continues to educate their members and their families about the financial opportunities that are available to them to buy a home, purchase an automobile, create a savings account, apply for a student loan and/or prepare for retirement.
For more information go to the following link:
seaportfcu.org/services/
MEMBERSHIP IS CONVENIENT
“We realize that it may not always be convenient for you to visit our office to conduct your business in person.”
Direct Deposit: Automatically deposit your paycheck, retirement, or government checks into your account each pay period—free, secure, and no office visit needed.
Payroll Deduction: Have part or all of your pay automatically deposited into your account—ideal for loan payments or regular savings contributions.
Debit Card: Access your account at ATMs nationwide; use Allpoint Network ATMs to avoid fees (find locations at Allpoint.com).
Member Audio Access (MAA): Manage your accounts and perform transactions anytime using a touch-tone phone.
CU-By-Mail/Fax/Phone: Complete many account transactions conveniently by mail, fax, or phone.
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IDC 10TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
The 10th General Assembly of the International Dockworkers Council (IDC) will take place from November 17–19, 2026, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the Othon Palace Copacabana Hotel.
• Led by IDC General Coordinator Dennis A. Daggett (who also serves as Executive Vice President of the International Longshoremen’s Association) and IDC Labor Coordinator Jordi Aragunde.
ILA International President Harold J. Daggett will address the delegation on Day 2 of the General Assembly.
• Attendees: Hundreds of delegates, union leaders, and activists representing roughly 165,000 dockworkers worldwide across every continent.
• Core Focus: Addressing industry automation, safeguarding jobs, and building international union solidarity under the theme that dockworkers must help shape the future of ports.
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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Port of NY/NJ
ILA Local 1804-1 members come together for a photograph at Universal—Reefer Department at Port Newark Container Terminal in 1993.
We are the International Longshoremen’s Association
85,000 Strong
Established 1892
Int'l Longshoremen's
BLAZE
Photo Credit:
John Daggett
Vice President
ILA Local 1804-1
Thank You!
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
16 CommentsComment on Facebook
That is first class..... bussiness in the front party in the back
In that group were some of the best men and mechanics in the east coast I knew a lot of them personally Great picture John thank you.
Great group of guys refer dept lot of great times
Great picture!
Back in the day Great bunch of guys 🙏🙏 to the ones that are not with us no longer
Great memories there!!
Wayne Kugelmann 👍💪 still working hard 😁
Lotta good men in that picture ❤️
Lot of these guys look to young to be an “A-Man”
When paychecks were long and the lines for the truck drivers were even longer.
The good old days when money was no object
Great pic picture of the Reefer Dept🤘
great pic! great group!
OMG all the OG’s💪🇺🇸 Some gone to heaven 🙏💔
👏
Go Union
DECEMBER 15, 1997
MORRIS STREET IN LOWER MANHATTAN, NEAR ILA HEADQUARTERS, IS RENAMED TEDDY GLEASON STREET
126 Years Ago Today…..
On November 8, 1900 ILA International President Thomas “Teddy” Gleason was born.
Gleason was born in New York City, the oldest of 13 children. Coming from a family of longshoremen, he left school after the seventh grade and started working on the docks.
Gleason became an ILA member and rose to the rank of ILA organizer in 1947, as a protegee of ILA President Joseph P. Ryan. Gleason supported William Bradley when he replaced Ryan in 1953; Gleason, in turn, replaced Bradley in 1963 as ILA President.
Teddy Gleason handed over the presidency to his vice president John Bowers in 1987.
Thomas “Teddy” Gleason took a young Longshoreman under his wing and became his mentor and throughout the years taught him about our great industry and had a profound influence on him.
That man went on to become the ILA International President in 2011.
That man’s name is Harold J. Daggett.
The Gleason’s and the Daggett’s forged a close relationship that resonates in our union right up til this day.
Thomas “Teddy” Gleason died in the Cabrini Medical Center in Manhattan on Christmas Eve of 1992 at the age of 92.
——————————————————————-
On December 15, 1997, Morris Street in Lower Manhattan (near ILA Headquarters) was renamed “Teddy Gleason Street.”
Left to right- John Bowers, ILA President; Robert E. Gleason, Secretary-Treasurer; Kathryn E. Freed, New York City Council Member of Manhattan’s First District, who was responsible for introducing legislation for remaining Morris Street; and Thomas W. Gleason, Jr., ILA General Council
Take a moment to enlarge the attached photograph and read about the incredible legacy of Thomas “Teddy” Gleason.
Thank you to ILA Chief of Staff Jim McNamara for sharing this with us today.
Int'l Longshoremen's ILA South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District James A. McNamara
Harold Daggett
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