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
THE INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN’S ASSOCIATION AND ITS LONG, STORIED HISTORY ON THE NEW YORK WATERFRONT
In photograph, Longshoremen gather outside the old Cunard-White Star Line, Pier 54, of the old Chelsea Pier complex, located at the foot of 14th Street in New York City.
The International Longshoremen’s Association dates back to 1892.
The ILA members on the New York waterfront played a vital role in establishing our union and creating a strong reputation. These were the early days as the ILA began to build their legacy.
ILA members powered the maritime economy that defined New York as a global port that became known around the world.
Greenwich Village’s western edge, where cobblestone streets once met the busy piers of the Hudson River, was, for much of the 19th and early 20th centuries, a front line of waterfront labor.
Before container ships and modern ports shifted maritime activity elsewhere, the Hudson River waterfront in Greenwich Village and the adjacent Meatpacking District was a dense and industrious landscape of piers, warehouses, and markets. Ships arrived daily carrying goods from across the Atlantic and rest of the country.
The labor demands of the waterfront were immense. Longshoremen loaded and unloaded cargo, sailors signed on for voyages, and workers processed everything from foodstuffs to manufactured goods. These jobs were often filled by newly arrived immigrants, particularly Irish, German, and later Italians, who formed the backbone of this maritime workforce.
The International Longshoremen’s Association has a long and proud history.
A history we all continue to grow and build until this day.
For more on the history of the International Longshoremen’s Association please type in the following links:
ilaunion.org/ila-history/
ilaunion.org/education/
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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Port of Algeciras, Spain
February 2017
In this amazing photograph…ILA International Executive Vice President Dennis A. Daggett is surrounded by dockworkers from Algeciras, Spain as they fight for longshoremen to improve better wages and working conditions while at the same time the Prime Minister of Spain was trying to sack all dockworkers and bring in scabs to take their jobs.
This moment proved to be historic as it was only one of two times in the entire history of Spain that Parliament went against the Prime Minister!!
Algeciras is a major port city in southern Spain’s Andalusia region, located on the Bay of Gibraltar, serving as a crucial maritime gateway between Europe and Africa.
**ILA WORLDWIDE**
**ILA SOLIDARITY**
————————————————————
Please take a moment to read the message below as Dennis A. Daggett shares his thoughts on that historic day
“There are moments in life that stay with you forever. Moments that do not simply pass through time, but carve themselves into your soul. This day in Algeciras, Spain was one of them.
The morning began with purpose. We sat together with Brother Jordi, the IDC Zone Coordinators, and IDC affiliates from around the world to get a full and detailed briefing on what was truly unfolding in Spain. The situation was as serious as it gets. The Prime Minister was pushing to sack tens of thousands of dockworkers, replace them with a new workforce, and turn those jobs into public sector positions. While we were in that room, the Parliament was convening in Madrid, making decisions that would impact the lives of tens of thousands of working families.
Standing with me were ILA International Vice President Virgil Maldonado, ILA International Vice President Kenny Riley, and our ILA staff member and translator Marc Christine. You could feel the weight of the moment in that meeting. This was not theoretical. This was real time. This was happening as we sat there.
After that meeting, we moved into a press conference where Jordi stood strong before the Spanish media, surrounded by IDC affiliates. His message was clear and unwavering. This was the fight of their lives, and there would not be one step back, and we would not succumb to the pressures of outside forces.
Even the setting carried meaning. The hotel we gathered in stood on historic ground where centuries earlier leaders from Spain and Algeria in Africa signed a peace treaty. It was a place where history had already been written, and on that day, we were about to witness another defining chapter.
During the press conference, the noise outside was impossible to ignore. Fireworks were going off so loud they sounded like bombs. I remember looking over at ILA Vice President, Virgil Maldonado and saying, what did we get ourselves into! That was the intensity of what was building outside those doors.
When we left the hotel, which sat high on a hill like a castle, and began walking down toward the port, the energy grew stronger with every step. The chants got louder. The air was thick with smoke. And then we turned the corner.
What I saw was something I will never forget.
A sea of orange and blue dockworker uniforms stretched as far as the eye could see. Thousands upon thousands of dockworkers and their families standing together, chanting in a deafening, thunderous roar, Ni un Paso Atrás. Not one step back!
The emotion that came over me is hard to put into words. I have been around the ILA my entire life, but I had never seen anything like this before. It was overwhelming. It was powerful. This was not just a protest. This was a movement. This was unity at its highest level.
When I had the opportunity to speak, I felt the weight of that moment in my chest. Alongside leaders from around the world, I poured my heart out. We spoke about solidarity. We spoke about standing together across borders and oceans. We spoke the truth that your fight is our fight. And in that moment, it was real. This was not something out of a movie. This was real life. This was a struggle that demanded everything from those people standing there.
What struck me the most was the families. Spouses standing side by side with the workers. Children there with their parents. The emotion on their faces told the story. This was about protecting their future, their dignity, and their way of life.
As a young man coming up in this industry and in this union, I had only ever dreamed of witnessing something like this. But this was not a dream. This was real. And it was a battle they refused to lose.
And in the end, they did not. For only the second time in the rich history of Spain, Parliament went against the Prime Minister. The dockworkers were victorious!
It was a powerful moment in the history of our dockworker movement, and I was proud to stand there representing the ILA. I was deeply moved by the experience. We came there in struggle, but the energy of the people lifted all of us in a way that is hard to describe.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with Brother Jordi and dockworker leaders from around the world, united in true solidarity, is something I will carry with me forever.
That moment changed me. It reminded me why we fight. It reminded me who we fight for.
It reminded me that this movement runs deep in my soul.”
Submitted by:
Dennis A. Daggett
7 CommentsComment on Facebook
Awesome. Nice work fellas!
Together impossible to fail!!
💪💪💪❤️❤️❤️
Solidarity 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾✊🏾
Mi cartel único esa era yo .Ese día será irrepetible
Port of Jacksonville, FL
1910
Longshoremen eating dinner on the docks before the night shift beings at the Port of Jacksonville circa 1910.
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Boi how far we've come
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 LONGSHOREMEN’S ASSOCIATION MOVES CARGO ALL AROUND THE WORLD ON A DAILY BASIS
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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 😂😂😂😂
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 “linesman” securing the Royal Caribbean Mariner Of The Seas at the Port of Galveston, Texas.
The members of the International Longshoremen’s Association never cease to amaze us all.
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
27 CommentsComment on Facebook
I take my wig off to you, ladies, cause I’ve been there and done that and that is not easy💕💕
Use the forklift ladies 🙏🏽
Forklift?
Tying up the ship and that rope is heavy as hell
Lol , we dont get to use the forklifts ....
Get it in tie that ship up 💪💯⚓️
Isn't that for the Ship Mates to do 🤔
You all are doing a great job 💪
Forklift don't work
Let’s get it ladies 1504-8 and local 20
My ILA Local 20 sisters ✍🏼❤️❤️❤️❤️🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️
No small task! Good job! 💪
Awesome work, LOVE IT!!!
Great job ladies
babybee..... yall look good 👍🏿 keep pushing Ladies
🔥🔥🏝️🪢🪢
💪🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
GriggsFamilyand Bernie Martin Co.💪👍👏
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.
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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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
ILA—Port of Baltimore
Thank You!!
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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.
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
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 💪💪💪
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!!!🇺🇸🤘🍷🍷
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
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
——————————————————————
A MESSAGE FROM ILA LOCAL 1291 SECRETARY TREASURER MAURICE MULGREW:
“Before 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! 👍 #ilastrong #ila1291 #ila1416
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
11 CommentsComment on Facebook
Uncle Steve nd Uncle Larry ⚓️⚓️💪🏽💪🏽1416 ILA
Philly to Miami, the ILA bonds are strong!!!
Looking good fellas!💪👍👏
Brotherhood at its finest 🙏🏽👍🏾💪🏽💯🗣💙
Looking good gents
❤️❤️
ILA forever
Big blessing 🙌🏿 🙏🏿 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:
“When 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 didn’t 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.”
Thank you Bill Patterson and Joe Moran for a look back at ILA history at the Port of Philadelphia
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
8 CommentsComment on Facebook
It was a pleasure and an honor to work with all my I.L.A. Brothers 🙏. We all worked hard and had some fun doing it 😊
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 WORKER’S 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
#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation
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Go Union