ILA Leader Harold Daggett Calling on President Biden To Resolve Thorny Wind Project Battle at Port of New Bedford, MA. Where Building Trade Unions Are Attempting To Do ILA Work

NEW BEDFORD, MA. – (May 26, 2023) Harold J. Daggett is contacting President Joe Biden and calling on the Administration to block efforts by the Massachusetts Building Trades Unions from stealing ILA work in the handling of Vineyard Wind’s offshore wind turbines at the Port of New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first shipment of wind turbines arrived at the port this week with Operating Engineers handling the off-loading of the shipment. ILA members took immediate action to protect their jobs when they independently set up picket lines around the Port of New Bedford.

ILA President Daggett called the action by the Massachusetts Building Trades performing ILA work “a clear violation of our historical jurisdiction,” and termed the Project Labor Agreement the Massachusetts Building Trades signed with Vineyard Wind “a sham agreement,” because it failed to include ILA longshore workers in the pact.

“Today’s pickets in New Bedford will be followed up by more demonstrations by the ILA,” the ILA leader wrote to President Biden. “We are joined in solidarity and support on this critical issue by our West Coast Sisters and Brothers of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU); our fellow American Trade Unions, Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA): Seafarers’ International Union (SIU) and American Maritime Officers (AMO); and bolstered by the strong support internationally by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF); International Dockers’ Council (IDC) and the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA).”