“America and Canada Now Know Of the Vital and Valuable Service You Perform Each Day,” ILA President Harold J. Daggett Tells ILA Membership In Sunday Letter To Them

On this Sunday, March 22, 2020, many of us are gripped with uncertainty over this Coronavirus crisis, an international pandemic none of us ever imaged we would see in our lifetimes.

Under normal circumstances, we would be attending religious services today, but this crisis – with the new standard “social distancing” now part of our way of life – many of our respective Houses of Worship are closed. But our ability to call on Our Lord is never shut down. I continue to offer my prayers for my family’s heath and ask God’s blessings on my Sisters and Brothers of the International Longshoremen’s Association, AFL-CIO and their families. I believe in the power of prayer and I am grateful for yours.

For those who are members of America’s Greatest Generation, and lived through, and defended our Country in the Second World War, they can recall President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s stirring speech after the attack on Pearl Harbor: “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.” The generation that followed can remember the sorrow and uncertainty following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963. More recently, we recall how powerless we felt when the World Trade Center was destroyed, and our country attacked on September 11, 2001. Every American generation faced unforeseen challenges and banded together to conquer them.

It’s natural to be afraid of this Coronavirus. We worry about our families and if we all will be protected against getting sick. We worry about the economic health of our industry and our nation.

I am inspired by the dedication of our ILA members who continue to work during this crisis to keep much-needed cargo flowing. America and Canada now knows of the vital and valuable service you perform each day. They are comforted that groceries have food and important medical equipment is delivered. That’s because of you, my amazing ILA members. Our joint ILA-USMX Safety Committee remains vigilant to keep workplaces safe and provide valuable information on how best we can all protect ourselves against this virus.

Whether you are engaged with your family in prayer today, or you participate in an on-line religious service, we ask you to join our ILA family to offer collective prayers for the health and well-being of our members and their families. I remain,

Respectfully yours,

Harold J. Daggett
International President