Dear Sisters and Brothers of the ILA,
Wishing every member and their families a joyous, safe, and festive Fourth of July! This Independence Day is incredibly special as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Your International Longshoremen’s Association proudly has been celebrating our Nation’s Independence Day for 134 of those 250 Years!
For generations, our members of the International Longshoremen’s Association have been the heartbeat of this nation’s commerce, keeping our ports moving and the economy strong. Your ILA has long maintained that our initials also stand for “I Love America!”
As we fire up the grills, watch the fireworks, and honor the freedoms fought for by our ancestors, let’s take pride in the rights we hold dear as proud union members: the right to organize, the right to assemble, and the right to build a better future.
Have a fantastic and safe Fourth of July!
God Bless You and Your Families,
God Bless the ILA,
God Does Love the ILA and God Bless America!
Harold J. Daggett
International President
International Longshoremen’s Assocation
July 4, 2026
North Bergen, New Jersey
