This education link has been set up to keep all ILA members informed of whatβs 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
ILA MEMBERS MEET UP TO PREPARE FOR THE βPEOPLE OVER PROFIT: ANTI-AUTOMATION CONFERENCEβ IN LISBON,
PORTUGAL
In photograph, ILA members meet up on the steps of the Carlos Lopes Conference Center as they have discussions in preparation for the βPeople Over Profit: Anti-Automation Conferenceβ that will take place on November 5-6, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal
In photograph, clockwise, left to right are:
Kenny Oelkers, ILA Education Director
Dennis A. Daggett, ILA International Executive Vice President/IDC General Coordinator
Tyreke Wells, Vice President, ILA Local 1233, Port of NY/NJ
Jordi Aragunde, IDC Labor Coordinator
Carlos J. Albertorio, ADC Vice President, Port of San Juan, PR
This historic two day meeting is expected to welcome over 600 delegates and labor leaders from Maritime Unions from all around the world.
17 CommentsComment on Facebook
We’re Well represented
Always at work Dennis A. Daggett… that’s why you are my guy. I see you Local 1233 VP Tyreke Wells…. Holla πͺπΎπͺπΎπͺπΎπͺπΎ
Best team ever! ILA members are the heart of the movement π
Thanks for sharing this important moment!
Great crew! I think that guy behind ILA Education/History is in this picture!
We’re lucky!!!
Writing History for the Port workers around the world π
Goodluck
Gracias Java!
βπΎ
πͺπͺπͺ
1423
Jordi Aragunde Miguens Dennis A. Daggett Kenny Oelkers π¦Ίπͺπͺπͺπͺ
Might as well get ahead of this digital id stuff too! We ain’t taking part in it!
Can you get me a job that I support you all everyday
Lisbon, Portugal
ILA PREPARES FOR βPEOPLE OVER PROFIT: ANTI-AUTOMATION CONFERENCEβ IN LISBON, PORTUGAL
ILA International Chief of Staff James McNamara meets with ILA delegates and staff to brief all on the necessary preparations that need to be in place in anticipation of the βPeople Over Profit: Anti-Automation Conferenceβ that will take place at the Carlos Lopes Pavillon in Lisbon, Portugal on November 5-6, 2025.
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Jimmy Mc still using the Rocket Richard Formula? His hair wasn’t that dark at convention?
Doing what you do best
Go strong…..πͺ πΊπΈπ΅πΉπ·π·
Thank you to the great leadership of the ILA showing the world people before profit! πΊπ²πͺπ»β
ILA leading the fight
Lisbon, Portugal
THE INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMENβS ASSOCIATION WELCOMES THE MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA TO LISBON, PORTUGAL
In photograph, ILA International President Harold J. Daggett and ILA International Executive Vice President Dennis A. Daggett welcome IDC Oceania Zone Coordinator/MUA Sydney Branch Secretary Paul Keating out of Sydney, Australia to the ME Lisbon Hotel as they prepare for the βPeople Over Profit: Anti-Automation Conferenceβ that will take place on November 5-6, 2025 at the Carlos Lopes Pavillion in Lisbon, Portugal.
The two day conference is expected to welcome over 600 delegates and labor leaders from Maritime Unions all around the world.
24 CommentsComment on Facebook
Making some churrasco with these terminals and now shrimp on the barbie!
A global attack needs a global response from United unions
Dockers all the way Lisbon!! πͺπΎπ―βπ½π
Strength in numbers gentlemen. And team work always prevails . Best of luck with this endeavor. Although we all are not able to be present with you , know that we are here fitting for the same outcome. Thanks for your leadership π.
Unity is power
Prayers for a successful outcome bringing the longshore/dockers worldwide together for this fight. If anyone can do this it’s you.
Unified world-wide!!
What an awesome team can’t lose with that leadership Go ILAπͺ
Great Leader!! Second to none !! The GOAT π
Solidarity comrades
Congratulations with your first world summit meeting for Port workers around the world, you guys are making ILA History ππ
Kee pit up
Go strong like allwais!!!π΅πΉπΊπΈβοΈπ·π·
Solidarity!!!
Maritime Unions United Cannot Be Defeated!!!! Let goooo!!!!πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ
Thank God for this leadership!!!!!!
Outstanding ILA is leading the fight of automation
Are they Donald Trumps mates?
πͺπͺπ€
βοΈ
Welcome to Portugal Mrs Daggett you are the best leadership in ILAπͺπ’
ILA ALL THE WAY!! DOCKERS UNITE
Go ILA 1804-1
Go Union
WE RUN THE DOCKS
THE INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMANβS ASSOCIATION
ESTABLISHED 1892
32 CommentsComment on Facebook
Let's add Canada to that map.
Where the great lakes?!! The ILA was founded on the great lakes
Does the ILA have a IBU division?
Of Course Dockers All The Way! βπ½π―πͺπΎπ
No doubt! It would be nice to add the Great Lakes.
Would make a great shirt
I like this idea for a shirt. However, there are some ports missing .οΏΌοΏΌ
Amen
Love seeing brothers from the docks making merch we need the ILA to post all the merch being made
Hell, yeah!!πͺπ»
We are the Gate Keepers to the world
Can I be down π
Greatest job in the world. I retired after 47yrs ILA LOCAL #333 Port of Baltimore.
I.L.A. ALL THE WAY
πͺπΏ
π―πͺπͺ
ILA INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT HAROLD J. DAGGETT ARRIVES IN PORTUGAL FOR ANTI-AUTOMATION CONFERENCEILA President Harold J. Daggett Arrives in Lisbon, Portugal For Historic Anti-Automation Summit; Meets With Leaders of SEAL, Portuguese Dockers Union
LISBON, PORTUGAL β (November 3, 2025) International Longshoremenβs Association President Harold J. Daggett arrived in Lisbon, Portugal on Sunday, November 2, just days ahead of the historic βPeople Over Profits: Anit-Automation Conferenceβ that begins Wednesday, November 5 at the PavilhΓ£o Carolos Lopes Convention Center in central Lisbon, Portugal. The ILA leader was welcomed to Lisbon by President Jose Carlos Monteiro and Vice President Sergio Sousa, the two top leaders of SEAL, (Sindicato dos Estivadores e da Actividade LogΓstica) the Portuguese Dockers Union.
βAll maritime unions are facing the threat of automation robbing their rank-and-file members of their livelihoods and destroying their unions,β said ILA President Harold J. Daggett, the leader of his 85,000-member longshore union, who successfully negotiated a landmark six-year agreement last year that fully protects his members against the automation threat. βDockworker and maritime unions are here in Lisbon this week to join in solidarity against job-killing automation threat to all of us.β
The Anti-Automation Summit is scheduled for this Wednesday and Thursday, November 5 and 6th, 2025.
The two leaders of SEAL met ILA President Harold Daggett and his delegation. The dockworker union leaders shared details of their recent historic job actions that resulted in victories for their rank-and-file members. The SEAL leaders recounted their four-year strike in Portugal to win wage increases, improved pensions and tax relief and the ILA president spoke on the strike at Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports last year that won powerful protections against automation. The meeting of SEAL and the ILA afforded each union an opportunity to express thanks for support and solidarity demonstrated during their respective strikes.
SEAL and the ILA are looking to build on their own successes to generate the same level of solidarity on a global scale when Maritime Unions from around the world gather on Wednesday to address the threat of automation.
President Daggett said the entire world needs to be better educated about the serious impact unchecked automation has on everyoneβs livelihoods and their communities. He said the public needs to be convinced that the automation threat jeopardizes the stability of the worldβs economy and safety.
βThe upcoming Anti Automation Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, will be one of the most significant gatherings of Dockworkers, Marine Engineers, Officers, Master Mates and Pilots, Seafarers, and all Maritime Workers in our lifetime,β said ILA Executive Vice President Dennis A. Daggett, who also serves as General Coordinator of the worldwide International Dockworkers Council (IDC). The ILA and IDC are the organizers of this βPeople Over Profits: Anti-Automation Conference. βIt is not just another meeting; it is a call to action for every Maritime Worker across the globe. The time has come for workers everywhere to unite and push back against a global corporate agenda that threatens our jobs, our communities, and our very way of life.
βFor decades, the Corporate Globalist agenda has been carefully crafted and disguised under words like innovation, modernization, and progress,β Dennis Daggett continued. βThey sound noble, but we know the truth. These are job killing technologies, plain and simple, designed to eliminate human workers and fill the pockets of corporations that already control too much of the worldβs wealth.β
In the photo, from left to right, Sergio Sousa, SEAL Vice President; Harold J. Daggett, ILA President and Jose Carlos Monteiro, SEAL President
13 CommentsComment on Facebook
Go ILA STICK TOGETHER. I L A STRONG
Interesting. Could you explain what exactly this protection means, what kind of measures have been or will be taken? Still interested.
Harold Daggett is a true fighter who refuses to back down with courage and heart he stands up for others and gives everything he has to the ILA. He will get it done!πͺ πͺπ΅πΉπΊπΈ
Looking forward to attending on Wednesday
πͺπΌπͺπΌπͺπΌπΊπΈ
The GOAT π
Go Harold continue to Educate! I.L.A. & WORLD DOCKERS UNION STRONGER THEN AUTOMATION, EVERY TIME!ππͺ
ILA STONG GLOBALLY πͺπͺπͺ
ILAπͺπΊπΈ
ILA Strong πͺπΌ
Port of Boston
Shared to us by ILA Locals 799, 800, 805 & 1066 Social Media pages.
Thank you Sean Murphy
EIGHT ILA MEMBERS DIE AND MANY OTHERS INJURED 72 YEARS AGO ON THIS DAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1953
Remembering the Black Falcon Fire β November 2, 1953
On this day in 1953, tragedy struck the South Boston waterfront when cargo in the Norwegian freighter M/V Black Falcon exploded and burned at the Army Base Pier, killing eight longshoremen and injuring many others. In honor of those lost, the site was later renamed the Black Falcon Terminal β today known as the Flynn Cruiseport β a lasting tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of Bostonβs waterfront workers.
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
I never knew this,
Although this happened 72 years.ago, it is still sad to hear about the loss of life of ILA Members and the people that were injured at this fire.
Wow, i did not know that
Weehawken, NJ
12TH ANNUAL ILA CIVIL, HUMAN AND WOMENβS RIGHTS COMMITTEE AWARDS DINNER
Congratulations to all of the recipients as they received their award on November 1, 2025 at the Envue Autograph Collection Hotel at Port Imperial in Weehawken, NJ
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AWARD:
JOHN WILLIAMS, South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District Representative
LABOR LEADER AWARD:
LUIS GONZALEZ, ILA International Vice President/ ILA Local 1922 President, Port Miami
WILLIAM BERNARD DUDLEY HUMANITARIAN AWARD:
BARBARA MELVIN, former President and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority
WOMENβS RIGHTS AWARD:
MARIA FONG, ILA Executive Administrator to the International President
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!!!
Photo Credits:
Lauren Cloud, ILA SAGCD
Thank You!
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Weehawken, NJ
12TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMENβS ASSOCIATION CIVIL, HUMAN & WOMENβS RIGHTS COMMITTEE AWARDS DINNER
MARIA FONG, ILA EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR TO THE INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT, WAS HONORED WITH THE WOMENβS RIGHTS AWARD
ILA Executive Administrator to the International President Maria Fong is joined by ILA Local 1478-2 Secretary Treasurer Orbito Diaz (left) and ACD Vice President/ILA Local 1478-2 President John Cuozzo (right) at the ILA Civil, Human and Womenβs Rights Committee Dinner at the Envue Autograph Collection Hotel at Port Imperial in Weehawken, NJ.
Congratulations Maria Fong on receiving the Womenβs Rights Award!
37 CommentsComment on Facebook
Great night! Congratulations again, Maria. So well deserved! π
Congratulations Maria very well deserved my friend
Congratulations Maria
Congratulations
Congratulations, Maria!
Congrats !!
Congratulations. Maria, it was a pleasure to meet you!β€οΈ
Congratulations Maria! Sissy Connolly
Congratulations πΈ πΎ π
Nice!!! Congratulations
Congratulations Maria!
Thank you Maria for everything you do! Congratulations and well deserved!!!πβ€οΈ
Congratulations Maria Fong
Congratulations πβ€οΈ
Congratulations!
Congratulations Marie
Congratulations to the one and only Maria Fong! The GOAT!
Congratulations π
Congratulations Maria!!
Congratulations Maria
Congratulations Maria - wonderful remarks raising the value of women in all walks of life!
Well deserved!! Great Human Being!!
Congratulations
Congratulations Maria well deserved!
Congratulations
LISBON IS CALLING
PEOPLE OVER PROFIT:ANTI-AUTOMATION CONFERENCE
NOVEMBER 5-6, 2025
LISBON, PORTUGAL
The International Longshoremenβs Association will be well represented by ILA delegates and leaders from up and down the East and Gulf Coast.
The short reel we have put together is an example of the solidarity we will bring overseas.
The world will be watching!
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Let’s GOOO!
β€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈ thank you for the support and your leadership 1804-1
Great video!!!
A MESSAGE FROM ILA INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT DENNIS A. DAGGETT:
Brothers and Sisters,
The upcoming Anti Automation Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, will be one of the most significant gatherings of Dockworkers, Marine Engineers, Officers, Master Mates and Pilots, Seafarers, and all Maritime Workers in our lifetime. It is not just another meeting, it is a call to action for every Maritime Worker across the globe. The time has come for workers everywhere to unite and push back against a global corporate agenda that threatens our jobs, our communities, and our very way of life.
For decades, the Corporate Globalist agenda has been carefully crafted and disguised under words like innovation, modernization, and progress. They sound noble, but we know the truth. These are job killing technologies, plain and simple, designed to eliminate human workers and fill the pockets of corporations that already control too much of the worldβs wealth.
This isnβt about moving cargo faster. Itβs about cutting labor costs, at the expense of the very people who keep the worldβs supply chain moving. The public has been sold a lie, told that automation will create efficiency and prosperity. But what they donβt tell you is the devastating effect it will have on working class families, on local economies, and on the social fabric of every port city in the world.
Just a few weeks ago, The New York Post reported that the United States could lose over 100 million jobs in the next decade due to automation. Thatβs not progress, thatβs an economic disaster in the making. Meanwhile, companies like Amazon brag about their technology investments while announcing mass layoffs of 20,000 workers in the same breath. The hypocrisy couldnβt be more blatant.
This conference is not about politics or social reform. Itβs about one thing, workers and jobs. Itβs about Dockworkers, Marine Engineers, Officers, Master Mates and Pilots, Seafarers, and every sector of the Maritime industry coming together to fulfill our sacred obligation to the people who matter most, our members. Itβs about standing shoulder to shoulder, no matter what union we belong to or what flag we sail under. Because when the corporations come for one of us, theyβre coming for all of us.
Itβs a damn shame that corporate interests and politics can still put wedges between unions, using the same old divide and conquer tactics that have been used against workers for generations. We cannot, and will not, allow that to happen again. Solidarity is our greatest weapon, and unity is our path forward.
We all took an oath when we were elected to represent our members. That oath must be sacred. Our loyalty is not to politics or power, but to the working men and women who depend on us to protect their livelihoods. That must always be our highest priority.
A special acknowledgment and heartfelt thank you goes out to ILA President Harold J. Daggett, whose vision and leadership have made this conference possible. He has been preparing us for this moment for years. He understands this fight. He understands that the only way we win is if every Maritime Union around the world stands together, united, strong, and unwavering.
His vision, this conference, will be the foundation for the global labor movementβs next great chapter. We owe it to our ancestors who fought before us, to our members who stand on the docks today, and to the future generations who will inherit the ports of tomorrow.
Let the good Lord guide us in our pursuit of justice, and may this conference stand as a beacon of hope for all Maritime Workers across the globe.
Together, we will show the world that progress without people is not progress at all.
In true Solidarity,
Dennis A. Daggett
15 CommentsComment on Facebook
It’s crazy how when the strike happen last year a lot of blue-collar workers and white collar were saying how it’s not fair. The longshoreman makes so much money automation is coming for your jobs. those same people some of them work at Walmart, Amazon, etc. automation and AI is coming for a lot of of the workforce. When the time comes those same people will wish that they were part of a great union like the one we are God bless the ILA.
Solidarity!!
Family member ,of Family who are members of ILA . Praying all goes well with the Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. Solidarity, Unity, and great support will prevail. ILA πͺπΎπ¦Ύππ½ππ½ππ½ππΎ
#solidarity to all my brothers and sisters
God Bless You!! He sees what you are doing!
Standing together , prayers going upππΏππΏππΏ
Looking forward to this Historic Conference. See you in Lisbon!!
Thanks for Sharing Knowledge Brother
ILA Together we are invincible πͺπΌπͺπΌ
Looking forward to what I feel will be the most powerful show of world wide Dock worker and maritime industry Solidarity there has ever been. πͺβ€οΈ
Tell Ilwu they are calling to tell everyone to vote yes on 50.
It’s called future shock good luck
This meeting in Lisbon is the most important meeting the maritime unions Could have at this time.As the labor Movement is facing the most difficult time If We are going to be a movement for the hard working people of the world. God be with all and Wishing you all a successful meeting as all your unions are facing the same problems. GREAT JOB IN ORGANIZING THIS MEETING
I.L.A. ALL THE WAY π₯π₯π₯
Solidarity βπ»βπΏπ©΅βοΈπβΌοΈ