Education

ILA Education/History

5 hours ago

A MESSAGE FROM ILA INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND IDC GENERAL COORDINATOR DENNIS A. DAGGETT:

LISBON, PORTUGAL (November 6, 2025) — Nearly one thousand dockworkers and maritime trade unionists from around the world gathered in Lisbon this week for the “Anti-Automation Conference, People Over Profits,” a historic two-day summit that concluded with the signing of the Lisbon Summit Resolution, establishing a Global Maritime Alliance to defend workers, communities, and national security from the reckless advance of automation.

This was not just another conference, it was a call to arms for every worker whose job, dignity, and community are threatened by corporate greed disguised as “progress.”

Throughout the summit, delegates examined evidence and real-world data proving what workers have known all along, human labor is more productive, more reliable, and far safer than any machine. Studies presented showed that so-called “fully automated” terminals consistently fall short in performance and depend daily on manual intervention to function. The myth of automation as “innovation” was shattered.

Corporate leaders and global shipping giants use buzzwords like innovation, progress, and modernization, but it’s all smoke and mirrors. Behind those words is a clear agenda, cut labor costs, boost profits, and erase generations of good union jobs.

While these corporations line their pockets with record-breaking profits, port communities are left decimated, families displaced, local economies gutted, and generations of skilled workers cast aside.

Delegates also raised serious concerns about the unspoken dangers behind automation, including the health impacts of 5G systems used to power remote operations, and the growing risk to national security as critical port infrastructure becomes increasingly dependent on software and vulnerable to cyberattacks.

This summit made one thing clear, automation is not progress, it’s exploitation.

The Lisbon Summit marks a turning point in the global labor movement. Dockworkers, seafarers, and maritime unions from every continent pledged to stand together, to fight back against job-killing technology and defend the human right to work with dignity.

The newly formed Global Maritime Alliance is more than a network, it’s a global force for justice. Its message to the world is simple, People over profits, Humanity over machines, Solidarity over greed.

I first want to thank ILA President, Harold J. Daggett, for having the vision and foresight to bring this historic meeting to Lisbon, Portugal. Watching his continuous fight after close to sixty years on the waterfront is inspiring to many and it motivates all of us to do better. I want to thank Jose and Sergio for being the best hosts, your hospitality was off the charts. I also want to thank all of the delegates and rank-and-file members who traveled from all over the world to attend this important conference. It means more to us, and more importantly to our movement, than you can possibly imagine. Thank you.

Finally, my Brother Jordi, thank you for helping organize one of the best, if not the best, meetings in Docker and Maritime history. Once again, your selflessness cannot be measured. Your brilliance shines through in everything you do, but this time it was really special, and it will be talked about for generations.

I also want to thank all of our speakers. Your remarks were not only insightful but a true education for all of us. We leave here knowing that our battle might be tough, but our relentless determination and commitment will outlast. Even if we face hardship and sacrifice, we will continue to fight for our ancestors and for future generations to come, and we will never ever surrender!!

Submitted by:
Dennis A. Daggett ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

18 hours ago

DAGGETT MAKES MARITIME HISTORY

ILA INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT HAROLD J. DAGGETT AND HIS INCREDIBLE TEAM OF LABOR LEADERS MAKE HISTORY AS THEY CONCLUDE “THE PEOPLE OVER PROFIT:ANTI-AUTOMATION CONFERENCE” IN LISBON, PORTUGAL….

More posts about this historic conference to come!! ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

21 hours ago

Lisbon, Portugal

ILA LOCAL 24 BROTHER CALVIN J. MACKIE OUT OF PORTON HOUSTON, TEXAS, SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON THE ANTI-AUTOMATION CONFERENCE THAT TOOK PLACE THIS WEEK IN LISBON, PORTUGAL:

“What a privilege and a honor to represent ILA Local 24 on the global stage! We must be prepared and vigilant in the face of automation. The fight is now and Dockworkers around the world must unite to Win!” ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

1 day ago

Global Union Dockworkers Sign Historic “Lisbon Summit Resolution” That Creates A World-Wide Alliance To Halt Expansion of Job Killing Automated Ports; Alliance Members Pledge To Collectively Engage In Job Actions Against
Companies That Invest in Machines Over Workers

LISBON, PORTUGAL (November 6, 2025) The “Anti-Automation Conference: People Over Profits” concluded their inaugural two-day summit with the signing of a historic “Lisbon Summit Resolution” that creates a Global Maritime Alliance to collectively fight any expansion of automating waterfront facilities around the world. In essence, this Alliance will look to mirror the success the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) achieved last year with the six-year Master Contract for longshore workers at Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports in the United States that protects them against any forms of automation.
Harold J. Daggett, the ILA International President, and the architect of his union’s Master Contract that contains iron-clad language to prevent any port from introducing automation, organized this first “Anti-Automation Conference” held in Lisbon, Portugal, along with the International Dockworkers Council (IDC), with the goal of uniting global dockworker and maritime unions to join forces and collectively fight against job destroying port automation.
“The unions that sign on to this Lisbon Summit Resolution now make up the most powerful labor alliance that this world has ever seen,” said ILA President Harold J. Daggett in closing remarks prior to ILA and IDC leaders officially signing the labor pact. “The International Longshoremen’s Association showed the world that we would go out on strike to protect our jobs and livelihoods from automation. Now, this Labor Alliance sends the same message to our employers around the globe. As our resolution, known as The Lisbon Summit Resolution, clearly states: ‘dockworkers and maritime transport workers of the world establish a historic framework for unity and collective action against the threat of job-killing automation’.”
The two-day Lisbon Summit, attended by a thousand union dockworker and maritime leaders from countries around the world, unanimously passed the Lisbon Summit Resolution. Their inclusion in this historic labor solidarity agreement will be fortified by scores of other global dockworker and maritime unions who intend to join the Global Maritime Alliance.
“Sisters and Brothers, I am fully confident we have the power and the resources to fight automation on a global scale,” the ILA leader said. “We must move forward with courage and determination.”
The ILA engaged in a three-day strike against United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) in October 2024 that ultimately won the union the greatest collective bargaining agreement ever negotiated. ILA President Daggett told the thousand delegates in Lisbon that the task of halting job destroying automation will not be an easy challenge.
“If sacrifices are required to block automation, we must be willing to make them. If enduring hardships are needed to achieve our goal of no automation on the waterfront, we must be willing to endure them, President Daggett said. “Remember, these will be selective job actions against the companies that defy us.”
The leaders of the ILA and IDC rated this inaugural “Anti-Automation Conference: People Over Profits” a huge success and said solidarity among global dockworkers and maritime workers was strengthened at the two-day meetings in Lisbon.
“Sisters and Brothers – our world-wide Maritime and Docker family -we are coming to the close of this historic two-day Summit but now beginning the fight of our lives,” Harold Daggett said. “Our voices shout out: NO TO AUTOMATION! We must be strong, we must be united, and we must be committed to take on this challenge together and never surrender. NEVER SURRENDER!” ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

1 day ago

ILA INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT HAROLD J. DAGGETT MEANS BUSINESS!!
NO AUTOMATION!!

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR INTERNATIONAL:

ILA President Harold J. Daggett Opens Anti-Automation Conference In Lisbon Calling For Formation of Global Maritime Alliance That Will Strike Companies That Push Job-Killing Automation

LISBON, PORTUGAL – (November 5, 2025) The leader of the 85,000-member International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) opened the historic “People Over Profits: Anti-Automation Conference” in Lisbon, Portugal today and told hundreds of global dockworker and maritime union members that the threat of automation is “a full-blown attack on our very existence.” He called for all Dockers and Maritime Unions to join a Global Maritime Alliance that would target and strike companies that introduced or expanded automation at waterfront facilities in any port around the world.
Harold J. Daggett, President of the ILA, in the keynote address at the start of the two-day summit held at at the Pavilhão Carolos Lopes Convention Center in Lisbon, Portugal, delivered a powerful, yet ominous message to the large gathering about the intent of their employers and the threat to workers everywhere.
‘Let me be perfectly clear, this is about getting rid of us for good,” Daggett said. “It’s about destroying the jobs that built this industry. And it’s about making sure future generations of dockworkers never even get the chance to stand on the waterfront and proclaim: ‘I am a union dockworker’.”
This global threat must be met with an equally powerful job action response by maritime workers, the ILA leader suggested.
“If any company decides to introduce any forms of job-killing automation at any port whose dockers and maritime workers are part of this newly formed maritime alliance, we will target that company with a global three-to-four-week strike,” said ILA President Daggett
“People Over Profit: Anti-Automation Conference” is taking place today and tomorrow where hundreds of union maritime officials and workers are gathered in solidarity to confront the challenge of automation on their lives and livelihoods.
Since the ILA’s Quadrennial Convention more than two years ago, ILA President Daggett called for all maritime unions to join in solidarity to address the threat of automation and put the brakes on Ocean Carriers from further destroying dockworker and maritime jobs worldwide.
The ILA leader hopes this Lisbon Summit ignites the spark for dockworker and maritime unions mirroring the success his own ILA achieved last year when he successfully negotiated a landmark six-year Master Contract with United States Maritime Alliance that included iron-clad language to keep automation off the docks on Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.
ILA President Daggett spelled out the formula to achieve this success at all ports and waterfront facilities world-wide. The ILA leader said the establishment of a Global Alliance among dockworker and maritime unions will collectively and forcefully challenge any further erosion of waterfront jobs through automation.
“That’s why I called for the formation of a global Maritime Workers Alliance at our ILA Convention two years ago,” Daggett told the gathering at the Lisbon Summit. “We need to unify, dockworkers, seafarers, marine engineers, pilots, and mates. Every maritime worker around this world. Every union. Every port worker.”
ILA President Daggett said success would come with “solidarity in action” and not just in words and resolutions.”
“If we join together with a real joint declaration and an alliance, and back up those words with job actions when a company threatens us with automation, we can protect every global port that joins with us,” said the ILA President.
Delegates to the “People of Profits: Anti-Automation Conference” were introduced to the “Objectives of the Conference” by Dennis A. Daggett, General Coordinator of the International Dockworkers’ Council (IDC) and International Executive Vice President, ILA. Jorid Arragunde, IDC International Labor Coordinator discussed the “Roadmap for Global Dockers Alliance.”
Delegates then heard from a panel discussion, moderated by Sergo Sousa from the Portuguese Dockers Union, SEAL and including leaders from dockworkers and other maritime unions.
The two-day Lisbon Summit is expected to conclude with the signing of the “Lisbon Summit Document” which will encompass the goals articulated by ILA President Harold Daggett and leaders from the IDC.

Thank you James McNamara, ILA Chief of Staff. ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

1 day ago

Lisbon, Portugal

ILWU LOCAL 13 PRESIDENT GARY HERRERA TAKES THE STAGE AS DAY TWO OF THE ANTI-AUTOMATION CONFERENCE BEGINS IN LISBON, PORTUGAL ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

1 day ago

Lisbon, Portugal

DAY TWO OF THE ANTI-AUTOMATION CONFERENCE IN LISBON, PORTUGAL

In photograph, ILA International President Harold J. Daggett is joined by ILA Local 1235 members Sandra Sanchez and Maria Valencia as Day Two of the Anti-Automation Conference begins in Lisbon, Portugal.
ILA Local 1235 is a Longshore Local out of the Port of NY/NJ.
🇵🇹 🇵🇹🇵🇹 ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

1 day ago

Lisbon, Portugal

ILA International President Harold J. Daggett welcome the ILWU delegation from Hawaii to the Anti-Automation Conference in Lisbon, Portugal ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

2 days ago

ILA OUT OF THE PORT OF BOSTON IS WELL REPRESENTED AT THE ANTI-AUTOMATION CONFERENCE IN LUSBON, PORTUGAL

ILA out of the Port of Boston in attendance at the IDC Anti Automation conference in Lisbon Portugal.

Left to Right
Eugene Stancato-Local 800 Vice President
Bernie O’Donnell-International Vice President
Michael McEvoy-Hiring Agent
George McEvoy-ACD Vice President
Barry O’Brien-Local 805 President
Rob Luzzo-Local 1604 Business Agent
John Dunkle-Local 800 Wage Scale
Scott Rago-Local 1604 Secretary Treasurer
Jimmy Crowther-Local 805 Recording Secretary ... See MoreSee Less