Education

ILA Education/History

13 hours ago

Houston, TX

BREAK BULK AMERICAS

The Break Bulk Americas Conference kicked off this week in Houston, Texas.
The ILA booth has once again been beautifully designed by Lauren Cloud and the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District.
Stop by to visit the booth if you are in the area!

Event Details:
September 22 – 23, 2026
George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida De Las Americas, Houston, TX 77010
Times: Tuesday, September 22 (10:00 – 19:00) and Wednesday, September 23 (10:00 – 17:00)Attendance: Over 5,600 professionals from more than 61 countries

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

23 hours ago

Vancouver, BC
International Dockworkers Anti-Automation Summit
September 21st to 24th, 2026
Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph St, Vancouver, BC V5L 1K3
Hosted by ILWU Canada

Day 2

IDC Labor Coordinator Jordi Aragunde is called up to the podium to address delegates, members and guests at the Anti-Automation Summit in Vancouver, BC

Jordi Aragunde, out of Barcelona, Spain, has dedicated his life to the International Dockworkers Movement and his presence is felt at every port on every continent around the globe.
Brother Jordi has been apart of the International Dockworkers Council and its 160,000 members since the very first day of its inception on June 27, 2000.

The IDC (International Dockworkers Council) is an association made up of dockworkers’ organizations from around the world.

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

1 day ago

Vancouver, BC

In photograph, left to right, IDC Labor Coordinator Jordi Aragunde is joined on stage by IDC General Coordinator Dennis A. Daggett at the Anti-Automation Summit at the Maritime Labour Centre in Vancouver, BC.

In November of 2026 The International Dockworkers Council will welcome dockworkers from all over the world to their General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

————————————————————-

ILA International Executive Vice President Dennis A. Daggett’s thoughts after Day 1 of the Anti-Automation Summit hosted by ILWU Canada in Vancouver:

“Yesterday, I had the tremendous honor of standing at the Maritime Labor Center in Vancouver, Canada, addressing Longshore and Maritime Union leaders who represent working men and women throughout the world.

One of the most important points I tried to make was that although we come from different countries, work under different agreements, belong to different unions, and deal with different labor laws, we are fighting many of the same battles.

Later that very same day, I received disturbing news about proposed changes to Canada’s labor laws, and it reinforced exactly what I had just spoken about from that stage.

Multinational corporations operate globally, they study every port, every contract, every labor law, every union, and every government, always looking for opportunities to reduce labor costs, weaken collective bargaining, eliminate jobs through automation, and take a strategy that works in one country and bring it to another.

Meanwhile, working people are forced to fight these global corporations under completely different labor laws depending on what country they live in.

It makes my skin crawl when governments strengthen the hand of multinational corporations at the expense of their own working people. These are family sustaining careers that allow people to buy homes, raise families, put their children through college, support their communities, and retire with dignity.

How can elected officials, who are supposed to represent the people of their own countries, support policies that make it easier for multinational corporations to eliminate those jobs?

For almost ten years, I have carried around a dream from a conversation I had with the late Dr. Tom Mackell, and after what I heard yesterday, I cannot stop thinking about it.

Imagine one specific day when working people throughout the world decide to demonstrate just how much power they actually have.

I am not talking about only Dockworkers or union members, I am talking about EVERY WORKING PERSON, Blue Collar and White Collar, Union and Nonunion, every man and woman who gets up every morning and goes to work to provide for themselves and their family.

For one single day, WE DON’T SPEND ONE PENNY.

No unnecessary purchases, no online shopping, no restaurants, no clothes, no electronics, nothing that can wait until tomorrow.

For twenty four hours, millions of working people around the world simply keep their money in their pockets and say, NOT TODAY.

Imagine the economic numbers the following morning, imagine the conversations taking place in corporate boardrooms, and imagine governments suddenly realizing what happens when ordinary working people understand their collective economic strength.

Working people build the buildings, move the cargo, drive the trucks, operate the trains, fly the airplanes, manufacture the products, teach our children, care for the sick, maintain our infrastructure, and perform the countless jobs that keep society functioning.

Then, after we finish working, WE ARE THE CONSUMERS WHO KEEP THE ECONOMY MOVING.

Yesterday in Vancouver, I said that while we bargain locally, our employers strategize globally, and if they are going to think globally, then we damn well better start thinking globally too.

Maybe that message goes far beyond the waterfront.

Maybe it belongs to every person who works for a living and simply wants the opportunity to provide a good life for their family.

The corporations are global, the economy is global, and the challenges facing working people are global.

We need to wake up!

IT’S US WHO HAVE THE POWER!

OUR TIME IS NOW!!”

Int'l Longshoremen's Dennis A. Daggett Jordi Aragunde Miguens

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

1 day ago

Vancouver, BC

ILA SOLIDARITY

ILA WELL REPRESENTED AT THE ANTI-AUTOMATION CONFERENCE HOSTED BY ILWU CANADA IN VANCOUVER, BC

The International Longshoremen’s Association made their way to Vancouver this week to attend the Anti-Automation Summit as we were well represented at the conference and well received by our Dockworkers Sisters and Brothers in Western Canada.
In photograph are ILA members from the Port of NY/NJ, Hampton Roads, Virginia, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Montreal, St. John’s, Saint John, Halifax, Hamilton.

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation

Int'l Longshoremen's Local 1804-1 ILA South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

2 days ago

Vancouver, BC

ILA leaders out of the Port of Virginia attend Anti-Automation Summit in Vancouver, BC

In photograph, left to right, ILA Atlantic Coast District Vice President/ILA Local 970 President Jonathan Coley, ILA Local 1970 President Monta Bivins and ILA Local 1248 President Chris Faulk out of Hampton Roads, Port of Virginia traveled to Vancouver, BC to represent the International Longshoremen’s Association at the Anti-Automation Summit as dockworkers from around the world come together to fight against automation.

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

2 days ago

Vancouver, BC

ILA Atlantic Coast District Vice President Albert Batten out of the Port of Montreal is called to the mic to speak to delegates, dockworkers and guests from
union around the world at the Anti-Automation Summit at the Maritime Labour Centre in Vancouver, BC

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

2 days ago

International Dockworkers Anti-Automation Summit
September 21st to 24th, 2026
Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph St, Vancouver, BC V5L 1K3
Hosted by ILWU Canada

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

2 days ago

Vancouver, BC

ILWU WELCOMES ILA

ILWU Canada President Tom Doran welcomes ILA Atlantic Coast District President Michael Vigneron to the International Dockworkers Anti-Automation Summit at the Maritime Labour Centre in Vancouver, BC.

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

2 days ago

Vancouver, BC
Canada

DAGGETT ADDRESSES DELEGATES AND UNION LEADERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AT ANTI-AUTOMATION SUMMIT IN VANCOUVER, BC

ILA International Executive Vice President/IDC General Coordinator Dennis A. Daggett is at center stage as he speaks to union leaders, delegates and guests at the International Dockworkers Anti-Automation Summit at the Maritime Labour Center in Vancouver, BC.
Daggett’s message inspired a room filled with generations of dockworkers from around the world as he spoke about the history of longshoremen and the industry they built for over 100 years.
He stressed the importance of worldwide solidarity, highlighting the ongoing fight with DP World stating that, “This is an international fight around the world and we must stand together. We cannot negotiate the jobs of our children and grandchildren and the future generations to come. Our legacy and how we take a stand against automation will be remembered and become part of our history!”

During his address, Daggett also mentioned and repeated several times, “We are not against technology as long as it does not cost the jobs of longshoremen. Technology that eliminates dockworkers will not be tolerated!”

Daggett went on to further warn the delegation:
“The Terminal Operating System is the brain behind the scenes that runs each terminal.
These employers are implementing automation little by little and sometimes it takes place without the dockworkers even knowing about it. We must all be aware of this and we must notify each other if this is taking place because what takes place at your ports will take place at other ports!”

PROTECT THE WORK!
PROTECT THE WORKER!
PROTECT THE JURISDICTION!

WORLDWIDE SOLIDARITY!

Int'l Longshoremen's Local 1804-1 ILA South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District Dennis A. Daggett Brian Porter William Hartigan Joey Daggett Michael Vigneron David C

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation ... See MoreSee Less

ILA Education/History

2 days ago

Vancouver, BC
Canada

INTERNATIONAL DOCKWORKERS ANTI-AUTOMATION SUMMIT
MARITIME LABOUR CENTER
VANCOUVER, BC
SEPTEMBER 21-24, 2026

ILWU Canada President Tom Doran welcomes ILA International Executive Vice President Dennis A. Daggett to the stage at the International Dockworkers Anti-Automation Conference at the Maritime Labour Center in Vancouver, BC.

#InternationalLongshoremensAssociation ... See MoreSee Less