History

--Roots of 
the ILA

--The Dawn 
of Unionism

--First 
Longshoremen's
Union

--ILA
Beginnings

--Early Threats
To Unionism

--Realism 
and Caution

--The Haymarket
Riot

--Creation of
the ILA

--Affiliation with
AFL-CIO

--Fighting
Communism
and racism

--ILA arrives in
New York

--ILA absorbs
LUPA

--Gangland
Myths

--Wagner Act

--Pacific Coast
Split

--ILA Accused
of Gangsterism

--Teddy Gleason
Fights to Save
the ILA

Teddy Gleason

--Elected President
of the ILA

--ILA in the
Present

ILA in the present

ILA fulfills early union vision

 Today, under the presidency of John Bowers, who was International Executive Vice President for the duration of Gleason's presidency, the ILA continues to thrive.  First elected in 1987, Bowers has served four consecutive terms as ILA President.  In addition, he serves as a Vice President and Executive Council member of the AFL-CIO and on the Executive Board of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). 

The ILA has finally lived up to its bygone leaders' vision of a modern union-from scholarship programs.to charitable giving through the ILA Children's Fund.to the ILA Civil Rights Committee's commitment to advancing social justice.to labor-management cooperation initiatives like the Industry Resources Committee.the International Longshoremen's Association stands ready to meet the challenges of the Twenty-First Century head on.

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