ILA issues statement on recent article

The International Longshoremen’s Association issued the following statement this morning:

ILA and Two Districts Say “We Want Your Cargo” Journal of Commerce Article Does Not Reflect Position and Policy of Union

NORTH BERGEN, NJ – (March 6, 2015) The leaders of the International Longshoremen’s Association, AFL-CIO and its two districts, were critical of statements made by an ILA leader from the Port of Savannah earlier this week at a Journal of Commerce sponsored Trans-Pacific Maritime Conference that suggested the union welcomed cargo that might be diverted to East and Gulf Coast Ports from the West Coast.

“I have made two statements this past year stating in the strongest of terms that the ILA would not handle diverted cargo that might be shipped to East and Gulf Coast ports as the result of unsuccessful negotiations between our Sisters and Brothers with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA),” said ILA President Harold J. Daggett. “The statements and position expressed in the article “We Want Your Cargo” in no way supports the position of the ILA.

“We have been in close contact with Bob McEllrath, the ILWU president and his negotiating team throughout the past year reaffirming our strong bonds of solidarity and support,” added ILA President Daggett. Clyde Fitzgerald, President of the ILA’s South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District and Dennis A. Daggett, President of the ILA’s Atlantic Coast District also said the position by the local ILA president, runs counter to their District’s longstanding pledge of solidarity with the ILWU.

“As much as ILA members and ports need work throughout the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District and as hard as we work to maintain a spirit of partnership with our employers, we would never seek to gain an advantage due to the misfortune of others,” said Fitzgerald, the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District leader.

“Solidarity with the ILWU and with dockers around the world is how the ILA defines itself,” said ACD leader Dennis Daggett.