I recently loaded a vessel with heavy amounts of military vehicles and ammunition containers destined for Ashdod Israel.

The amount of artillery we’re sending over seas for these proxy wars is mind boggling. Unfortunately this was a military contract and I cannot post the pictures I have but holy shit man we loaded an entire vessel with killing machines for a war that doesn’t even involve us. Our tax payer money is going to fight other countries issues and it’s sad to see. This was loaded in New Jersey.

Which one is better and what's the benefit?
If you had to decide to go to one

Is this going be increase on the new contract? It kinda low compare current contract. It only 50k which is not even one year salary in some local. I asked the union representative, they won't try doing anything. They said work more and earn more.

Remember when everyone was scared of germs during the pandemic? Guess that’s not a thing anymore 🤮

Hello,

My sister recently became a casual and has started and I’m still waiting for an orientation letter to go out for my number.

Does anyone know what number it is on currently for the most recent orientation?

There used to be a site or google drive that had detailed info on what type of lashing and stackers were on a majority of vessels.

Does anyone have a link they could post or send me with this info?

Appreciate it!

Am I wrong for thinking that the "tentative deal" was possibly just a pat on the head to get the holiday work done and freeze us out (figuratively and literally) during the Chinese New Year/slow season?

I've heard a whisper of our president getting up from the table again. Has anyone else heard anything similar?

Section 12 FWIW

Found myself with some time to kill, any good recommendations regarding cinema, films, tv shows or even podcasts related to the harbor & ports.

Looking to see if the ILA is hiring in NJ/NY

AI was supposed to free us from boring work we hate. AI should do all the dirty and dangerous jobs for us. When the ports get automated I will be celebrating. I can't fathom why you guys are angry about it.

Many had seen the viral video of mariners pulling out freebies from a floating container out in the sea..

What is the craziest thing some of you salty dogs found floating out there?

Anyone know when Local 1258 will start hiring again ???

Hello everyone, I’m not a Longshoreman but I was a longshore wife…My husband loved his job so much, at times the Port would see him more than we did but as he always said, I do all of this for the kids and you hun…My husband was a Proud US Marine Veteran and was a Longshoreman for 8 Yrs and in those 8 yrs he made a new family and bonded with all of his longshore Brothers/Sisters…there was nobody that didn’t know or know of my husband as he was a great man and an amazing friend to all, easy to talk to and remembered everyones important days i.e. Birthdays, Anniversaries etc. he was a very hard worker, he worked 7 days a week 6 hrs on 6 hrs off round the clock never missed a day of work only time he wasn’t at work was on his well deserved vacation time, My Husband always completed top hours even before the “port yr” was over, during Covid he worked round the clock with hardly any rest, alongside his Brothers and Sisters to keep shelves and other essentials stocked for everyone along the East Coast. When my husband signed up to be a Longshoreman there were a lot of promises made but not kept, like for example the “big” container check was supposed to come after 5 yrs of working but the company did not come through with their promise and then another promise of oh it will be in year 6 then again in year 7 so my husband in yr 8 was telling me maybe this is the yr hun but if it was he would never get to see it for on July 12th 2022 my husband said goodbye to me as his shift started at 7 pm, he said, I Love You Hun I’ll see you around 1:30 am (his shift ended at 1am) I gave him a hug and a kiss, if only I would’ve known what was to come I would’ve held on to him much longer, there are alot of what ifs on my mind all if the time since that night, for on July 13th 2022 I received a call at 3 am with words my mind couldn’t comprehend you see, on the 12th at midday my husband called me and said hun let’s go on a date we can go for lunch they cut us early and we haven’t been anywhere in a while and as he picked me up on our way to our favorite restaurant one of our car tires blew just as we entered the parkway, there were no regular tows as they cannot go on the parkway so we ended up in our car for almost 4 hrs just talking, laughing he even slept for almost half hour until finally we were able to get a tow but it was already too late for our lunch date as he only had enough time to eat quickly and rest for an hour before heading back to work his shift, and at 10 pm that night he called me and we spoke about the beautiful sunset picture he posted on FB on how much he missed his Dad (he passed 3yrs earlier) and if I could hear him well for he had bought new AirPods his old ones didn’t work and he told me Hun can you hear me? I said yes then he said but hun can you really hear me? again I said yes and he said ok that’s good but remember you can always hear me I laughed and said I know I can silly and we hung up. And as I went to sleep for the night awaiting my husbands return home all I received instead was that call at 3 am telling me that not even an hour before his 1 am shift was over there was an incident and his Straddle tipped over and he passed on the grounds of PNCT Ports of America Port instantly… I was in shock I heard screaming that I thought was in my head but it wasn’t for I was actually screaming and my Son came running asking what happened I couldn’t talk then my other younger children came running and it was just complete shock with not believing and calling my husbands cellphone leaving message after message for him to please pick up…my Children and I along with my family have not been the same since that day and I know we never will, my husband was a very loving Father, Husband, Son, Brother, Uncle, Godfather and Friend…if there was someone that you could count on for Anything, whatever it was that was indeed my husband… But these “Big Companies” and their CEO’s get richer and richer off of the backs and all of the hard work Longshoremen do…does being a longshoremen have its perks? Yes, but you have to put in the work and be prepared to call the port your home at times due to work schedules but it is a very dangerous job and some like my husband never made it back home, he died doing something he loved and for what? None of those company people have said a word to my children or I since the funeral 2 yrs ago but that day they said to me, we will be there for you and your children but nope it’s crickets from them my husband was just another worker for them and was replaced with the next one in line, they even took away our health insurance because according to them my husband had 8 yrs vested at Ports of America and 5 yrs at Metro Intermodal which is only 13 yrs and he needed 15 for us to be able to stay on the insurance, oh but they where gracious enough to offer me Cobra for $1900+ per month how awesome of them right?? I can’t afford that, I can’t even afford my husbands Headstone yet, but yet that’s how the Employer/CEO of Ports of America has “been there for us” by ignoring the family of one of its deceased employees that not only was a tremendous worker but passed away while on the job. My apologies for this long post but I just wanted whoever is against longshoremens new contract to see and read first hand how very hardworking they are and the dangers of being a longshoremen. This new Contract is very much deserved, I write this in honor and memory of My Husband, Uriel “Popeye” Matamoros #84525 Longshoreman from Ports of America worker at PNCT Newark, NJ ILA Local 1233 who passed away 07/13/2022 on the job and for all others that have passed before and after he did and never got the chance to go back home to their families..Proud to be a Longshore Wife

Does anyone know what number they are on right now for the lashing test?

I am only one chinese in my local. Is there any local have chinese member?

Many of my friends are longshoremen (NY/NJ) and I’ve been wanting to apply for years and years and haven’t. I’m a single mom now, a hard worker, and above all want to make sure my daughter has the life she deserves with only momma footing the bill. Does anyone have any advice on where i should apply what locals are hiring etc? I know it will take a long time to get hired even if i do…. But i want to atleast APPLY! Ofcourse if anyone has any tips to speed up the process please do tell!!! Thank you guys for all you do ILA is not for the faint of heart ♥️

The media is saying you are overpaid, but then I hear that it’s only a few lucky ones, that most don’t get enough hours.

It seems a bit like real estate agents, where there are more people getting credentials and hoping for work than there is work available.

As an outsider, it appears that the ILA may be what’s causing the problem. The lucky ones who are already in are using the union to protect their high wages, while the majority are scrapping by.

Instead of higher wages, maybe what’s needed is an even playing field.

I’m really trying to understand, so if I’m wrong, don’t call me names, kindly explain it to me.

This is my first year with qualifying hours for the insurance. I hear two different sides. One says my coverage will begin on November 1st and the other days January 1st Can any of my ILA brothers tell me what to expect

Any news when they hiring more trades or the next hire is coming up

https://nypost.com/2024/10/04/business/how-did-50k-dockworkers-strike-at-us-ports-with-only-25k-jobs/

Hello Longshoremen,

I hope all is well. I am a researcher, and I am writing an essay about cargo ships. The history of unions within the longshoreman field is fascinating! What current stories are interesting about your trade? What makes the job interesting? What doesn't the lay-person realize? Curious to learn more. Thanks!

The media fucking lied to you. IF you get in on the east coast, you won't be making $200k. For the first ten years you'll be lucky to make $50k. You won't be getting enough hours to move up to the next step every year, so to become a sixth step will likely take 15 years.

If you do manage to get hours, it's going to be because you got lucky AND we're living in a RV in the parking lot. There are tons of people who got in and aren't getting hours because there are too many new members already.

Stop believing what you are hearing on the news. They don't know shit about how the ports work or how the ILA works. The media is controlled by the same class of people who own the shipping companies, the more propaganda they can put out against us, the more they will. If you work a full time job and pick up hours when you can, after 5-6 years you may make enough to break $30k a year and get benefits, but even that's unlikely.

If any actual members would like to add to this, please do. Too many posts are being made of people who think they can just jump in and join the ranks like all of us just sit in recliners and fuck off all day getting paid like people have been trying to say on here for the past week. Every port already has too many members for the hours available. The top third does make $200k or more, because the bottom third doesnt gets hours. If you join now, you will be the bottom third for the next 12-15 years if you show up daily to get work

Hello! I want to become a longshoremen, I'm in the US Army National Guard and live in northern New Jersey. I'm interested in knowing if there are any benefits to being in the Army when pursuing a career as a longshoreman. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you, and have a great day!