
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
Port of Jacksonville, FL
1910
Longshoremen eating dinner on the docks before the night shift beings at the Port of Jacksonville circa 1910.
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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- Likes: 31
- Comments: 1
- Shares: 10
1 CommentComment on Facebook
STILL RACIST
TOP 10 SHIPPING LINES IN THE WORLD
THE CONTAINERS OF THESE SHIPPING LINES CAN BE SEEN AT ALL ILA PORTS AS THE INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMENβS ASSOCIATION MOVES CARGO ALL AROUND THE WORLD ON A DAILY BASIS
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5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Didn’t Zim and Hapag join
Some by gone lines. Ned-Lloyd, Korea Shipping Line, Moore McCormick, Dart Line, Balt-Atlantic, Spanish Line, Japan Line, Sea-Land, Trans Freight Line, French Line, Columbus Line, Occidental Container Line, Hellenic Line, Royal Netherlands Steamship Line, Hafskip, US Line, Baltic Line, Hanjin, American Export Line, Delta Line, Lykes Line, Prudential Line, Seatrain Line, Concorde Line and many more that I just can’t recall.
Figures we get the grimaldi lines , unlashing all those trucks sucks ππππ
The big keep getting bigger, and the smaller keep disappearing.
Go Union
Port of Galveston
Shared to us by ILA Local 20:
**WOMEN OF THE ILA**
Local 20 βlinesmanβ securing the Royal Caribbean Mariner Of The Seas at the Port of Galveston, Texas.
The members of the International Longshoremenβs Association never cease to amaze us all.
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+1
27 CommentsComment on Facebook
I take my wig off to you, ladies, cause I’ve been there and done that and that is not easyππ
Use the forklift ladies ππ½
Lol , we dont get to use the forklifts ....
Forklift?
Tying up the ship and that rope is heavy as hell
Get it in tie that ship up πͺπ―βοΈ
Isn't that for the Ship Mates to do π€
You all are doing a great job πͺ
Forklift don't work
Let’s get it ladies 1504-8 and local 20
My ILA Local 20 sisters βπΌβ€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈπ€ΈβοΈπ€ΈβοΈπ€ΈβοΈπ€ΈβοΈπ€ΈβοΈπ€ΈβοΈ
No small task! Good job! πͺοΏΌ
Awesome work, LOVE IT!!!
Great job ladies
babybee..... yall look good ππΏ keep pushing Ladies
π₯π₯ποΈπͺ’πͺ’
πͺπΎππΎππΎππΎππΎ
GriggsFamilyand Bernie Martin Co.πͺππ
Port of NY/NJ
NEW YORK DOCK AND RAILROAD
Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill and Red Hook, Brooklyn
Year of photograph is unknown
The New York Dock Company was a rail-marine offline contract terminal that had carfloating operations, carload and less than carload contract terminals, direct bulk offloading of ships to railcar, and would have large storage warehouses at their disposal (whereas the Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal did not have direct ship to rail or large warehouses).
Carfloats with railroad freight cars would come from the various railroads on the mainland in NJ and the Bronx, and bring in commodities to three different pier terminals located south of the Brooklyn Bridge: (in north to south order:) Fulton, Baltic & Atlantic. It also owned warehouses in Red Hook, that did not have rail access.
The New York Dock Company was the successor to the Brooklyn Wharf & Warehouse Company. On July 17, 1901, it purchased the Brooklyn Wharf & Warehouse property from under foreclosure and took possession of those properties on August 1, 1901.
Other than the obvious railroad freight operations due to its status as a contract terminal, New York Dock Company also conducted business in the area of warehousing and storage, including both dry and cold storage. It would be one of the larger cotton storage facilities in the New York Harbor area. It would also lease space to several coastal and international steamship companies at its piers.
The original New York Dock real estate holdings extended as far north as to the Manhattan Bridge.
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Port of Baltimore
RESPECT TO OUR PENSIONERS!!
Let us never forget the ILA members who came before us who built our great union into what we all have today!
**Respect**
We are all grateful and thankful!!
May God Bless you all!!
Photo Credit:
James Henwood
ILAβPort of Baltimore
Thank You!!
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17 CommentsComment on Facebook
I retired in 2014. My father worked there and his eight brothers work there. The salters family
I am a retiree from the port, Linda Poremski Schmidt, Benefits Office as was my late husband, Gang carrier, Walter Schmidt, Walter S . My father and gang carrier, Little Andy Poremski. My brother and past President, Albert Poremski. My brother Richard Poremski, Container Royalty. My Grandfather and President Simon Lustica. How do I receive one of these pins as a Memento for all the years working at the port? Thanks in advance. Linda Schmidt.οΏΌ
I had 48 yrs before I retired. My pin is proudly sitting on my bookcase for everyone to see.We were a ILA family. My father my brothers and my uncles were all members in Baltimore.
May God continue to Bless the I.L.A!!!!
I love ILA!!! All of my family is a part of
YES ITS GREAT TO BE RETIRED BUT WHEN THEY DO THE CONTRACT TALKS THEY FORGET TO PUT THE RETIRED IN THE CONTRACT ITS NEVER TALK ABOUT THE PENSON IS THE SAME FOR YEARS
Port of Halifax rep.
My husband, George W Koblinsky is a pensioner and so was his Father. How can we get a pin?
Thank you .. my late husband was in local 953 for 44 years. Before him was his father, grandfather and uncle..All strong union men!!!!!
ILA STRONG ILA FOREVER πͺπͺπͺ
Do you make pension pins for other ILA local I was a member of ILA Local 273 Saint John New Brunswick Canada.For 45 years .Best job ever and proud too be a member of local 273 .My father was a member .Im second generation of I L A
Would love to wear one from my local 1804-1 retired ila all the way
I agree!!!!! Love the ILA!!!πΊπΈπ€π·π·
LONG LIVE THE ILA THE GREATEST UNION IN AMERICA
Won’t be long there will be no pensioners is what it seems. No more pension held after this yr.
That was local 1233
Port Miami
Port of Philadelphia
ILA EDUCATION
ILA LOCAL 1291 LEADERS OUT OF THE PORT OF PHILADELPHIA VISIT PORT MIAMI ILA LOCAL 1416 OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS THEIR DAILY CRUISE OPERATIONS; NORWEGIAN JEWEL TO CALL ON THE PORT OF PHILADELPHIA IN THE NEAR FUTURE
Philadelphia Local 1291 officials visited Miami Local 1416 to seek guidance from their Executive Board regarding the upcoming arrival of the Norwegian Jewel calling the Port of Philadelphia.
In photograph, left to right:
Larry McKnight, ILA Local 1416 Business Agent
David Saunders, ILA Local 1291 Business Agent
Stephen Hopkins, ILA Local 1416 Vice President
Maurice Mulgrew ILA Local 1291 Secretary Treasurer
ββββββββββββββββββββββ
A MESSAGE FROM ILA LOCAL 1291 SECRETARY TREASURER MAURICE MULGREW:
βBefore we start our cruise operation tomorrow, ILA Local 1291 would like to express our gratitude to ILA Local 1416 President Eugene Dixon, Vice President Stephen Hopkins, Business Agent Larry McKnight, Financial Secretary-Treasurer Dana Ferguson, Financial Recording Secretary and Trustee Delandrius Jackson, along with the entire Local 1416 membership.
Our time here was highly educational. Observing your cruise operations -The Cruise Capital of the World!!- along with the structure of your local and the strong sense of solidarity among your members is truly amazing.
God Bless the ILA! π #ilastrong #ila1291 #ila1416
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11 CommentsComment on Facebook
Uncle Steve nd Uncle Larry βοΈβοΈπͺπ½πͺπ½1416 ILA
Philly to Miami, the ILA bonds are strong!!!
Looking good fellas!πͺππ
Brotherhood at its finest ππ½ππΎπͺπ½π―π£π
Looking good gents
β€οΈβ€οΈ
ILA forever
Big blessing ππΏ ππΏ ILA
Port of Philadelphia
1996
THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA SHOWED SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY TO ILA MEMBERS AS BOTH UNIONS WERE ON STRIKE BACK IN 1996
ILA LOCAL 1291
ILA LOCAL 1242
ILA LOCAL 1566
In 1996, the Philadelphia waterfront was a flashpoint for intense labor and legal battles, primarily centered around Holt Cargo Systems and its efforts to use non-union or alternative labor. The ILA teamed up with the Philadelphia Orchestra, who were on strike at the same time. Some of them came down to the picket line to play their instruments and give support to the ILA.
ILA Local 1291 member Bill Patterson remembering the events of that day:
βWhen the sheriffs department came to arrest us I was the strike captain and I told them we were not being disorderly we were listening to Bach and Beethoven. They didnβt know what to do so they left. My friend Joe Moran, another longtime longshoreman, took the pictures you see in this post. I was a Philadelphia Longshoreman for 47 years. My father 45 years, and my Grandfather 46 years.
I am so proud to also say that my son has completed 23 years so far on the docks.β
Thank you Bill Patterson and Joe Moran for a look back at ILA history at the Port of Philadelphia
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+2
8 CommentsComment on Facebook
It was a pleasure and an honor to work with all my I.L.A. Brothers π. We all worked hard and had some fun doing it π
Michael Frances Billups
Love this union!!!!
What a great little solidarity story!
God Bless Collective Bargaining.
When I was a Business Agent for Steamfitter’s Local 420 I caught a RAT HVAC Contractor in the Port doing our work. I talked to a Manager from the Port and told him my problem. I told the RAT to get off the job immediately or I was putting up a Picket line and I conveyed that to the Manager too. The Rat didn’t leave and I took the sign out of my car and stood at the gate. ILA Shop Steward got wind of me being there and came out and introduced himself . I explained the problem and within 15 minutes it looked like mice off a sinking ship coming thru that gate !!!! The whole place was walking off and honoring my Picket line !!! That’s SOLIDARITY !! Great bunch of Brothers and Sisters!!! Manager took the hint and Union Steamfitters finished the job !!! RATS. We’re gone !! My deepest appreciation to the Stew and the ILA. !!!
Go Union
Port of NY/NJ
NYSA-ILA 2026 WORKERβS MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE
STELLA MARIS CHAPEL
170 CORBIN STREET
NEWARK, NJ 07112
TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2026
Thank you Jackie Scarpari for sending this to us
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1 CommentComment on Facebook
Go Union
Thank you to ILA Local 1235 member Matt Cabrera out of the Port of NY/NJ for sharing these incredible drawings with us of Longshoremen on the docksβ¦.
NO AIβ¦just some old school drawings displaying his talentsβ¦.appreciate you Brother!!
Thank you!
@tigerblud
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+3
10 CommentsComment on Facebook
Dude got talent π―
I am going to have to PDO you to Red Hook Terminal to make the cut. I'll hire a stacker operator on the next vessel and pick you up. π€£
Very cool….
Great Job
CRAZY TALENTED!!!!.....
π₯π₯
Matt you have Mad Skills this is the Best you really Captured Them π€πΎ
Go Union
Very nice
Dope
ILWU
WEST COAST PORTS
PORT OF SEATTLE
PORT OF TACOMA
WASHINGTON STATE JUST BANNED PUBLIC FUNDING FOR PORT AUTOMATION
Longshore unions backed green measure aimed at box handling equipment.
A new state law means two major U.S. West Coast ports (Seattle and Tacoma) wonβt be tapping public funds for automated container handling equipment.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee in March signed state Senate bill 5995 into law, which aims to protect maritime jobs by ensuring that public investments in port decarbonization do not lead to the replacement of human workers with robots.
The measure ensures a permanent ban on automation funding by repealing a βsunset clauseβ that would have allowed the prohibition to expire on Dec. 31, 2031.
The law covers fully automated equipment if it is remotely operated or monitored, regardless of whether a human can intervene or control it.
At the same time, port districts are still explicitly authorized to use public funds for zero and near-zero emission equipment, provided it remains human-operated.
The restriction applies to both individual port districts and port development authorities in Washington, including Seattle and Tacoma. The hubs rank ninth and tenth among U.S. gateways, handling about 3.3 million TEUs annually.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has approximately 42,000 members at ports along the West Coast, including Washington.
Automation in 2024 became a flashpoint during longshore contract negotiations when a three-day strike by the International Longshoremenβs Association shut down container handling at dozens of East and Gulf Coast ports.
In photograph:
Port of Seattle
Excerpts of this article were shared to us by Stuart Chirls of βfreightwaves.comβ
Thank You!
@ilaunion.org @ilasagcd @ddag21
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30 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thats what California did but the last company to go automated, Maersk funded it all themselves.
ππ»ππ»ππ»if we don't stand up for ourselves (each other) no one will. Great job guys/gals
hell yeah and many thanks to the ILWU Washington Area District Council which has been working on it for years along with many rank and file members to wrote in, showed up and spoke to their representatives!
Amen ππ½ good job guys
That's right β οΈ π
Nice work to the WA ILWU District Council and Political Action committee members and everyone who called Legislators and got involved!
Enormous victory…! This needs to be done world wide, God bless all human labor, God bless the I.L.W.U.
That’s a Win and we are Strong! We are not only still large in numbers but we are wise and we will move together! We have gotten stabbed in the back we have been lied to our faces and we have worked in good faith and we will draw the line and defend it!
We need to stick together against automation in 2028 new contract negotiations….if we have to go to strike so be it…. We the labor force are strong enough to win but we need to be united strong πππΌπͺπΌ….ILWU STRONG
Tell that to the brown brothers
What happened to LA and Long Beach Oakland etc
Labor is what we sell
ποΈππ»ππ»
Gov. Newsome screwed the west coast
that won’t stop automation. The companies have billions of dollars to invest.
Great news , now if we could only get the BC GOVERNMENT TO DO THIS ILWU 502 New Westminster bc
SB24 in California is the EXACT OPPOSITE π THANKS FOR NOTHiNG GAVIN NEWSOME
What if carriers decide to cut sailings into Seattle Tacoma due to lack of automation and route to other ports? That would be a disaster for union workers.
Not happening hear sadly
Mimi Lane (and others) You are spot on, EXACTLY correct. Getting public funding out of automation will delay it, but it won't stop it. The post/message from the ILA that this is hella "political fight" is shortsighted. Follow the $. Bigger ships mean bigger profits. So "5 high, 13 wide" is a thing of the past. The environmental damage is devastating, but getting these larger ships through the "new" Panama Canal is where the $ is. So that's where the industry went. Bigger ships, companies swallowing up other companies, are chopping into our numbers and "work opportunity" big time. If the government doesn't fund it, shipping companies will (and they'll still receive government "subsidies" for doing it). WE (East and West Coast Longshore) need to deal with the reality of automation. Every fucking non-union pos outfit in our ports needs to be ORGANIZED, or gtfo of OUR PORTS. The ILA and ILWU must think of ourselves as PORT WORKERS, with PORT JURISDICTION (not just the "ship and stringer"). That last "confinement" to "ship and stringer" is something that has been used on the West Coast, over and over, and over again for years. And the "Grand Master Move".... ORGANIZE! ILWU, IBT, ILA, united, working together. could organize every port, every port trucker, and every non-union supply chain link currently operating beyond our reach, especially in "right to work" states. This is the "war" we have to fight to survive. If you think labor is going to "win" playing "3-D" politics, please leave the movie theater. The movie you're watching is a fantasy. Remove your 3-D glasses, and focus on reality. Automation is coming, with or without politicians selling us out, funding it.
Awesome ππ

