HOLLYWOOD, FLA. Harold J. Daggett, who went to work on the New York-New Jersey docks working in maintenance as a young Navy veteran in 1967, was elected President of the 50,000-member International Longshoremen's Association at the union's 53rd Quadrennial Convention in Hollywood, Florida. Mr. Daggett, 65, who was born in Manhattan's Greenwich Village and today resides in New Jersey, becomes the ninth president in the union's 120-year-history.

      In front of a boisterous, supportive crowd of some 1,000 cheering ILA delegates and guests on the final day of the union's convention at the Westin Diplomat Hotel here in Hollywood, Florida, Mr. Daggett vowed to turn around the fortunes of the ILA with strong, aggressive organizing efforts utilizing all ILA Vice Presidents and staff members, and tightening enforcements of all contractual items, including jurisdiction, safety and container weights.

      Harold Daggett's election as president culminated a successful four-day ILA Convention that featured numerous Labor, shipping and political speakers.

      Richard P. Hughes, Jr., who occupied the presidency of the International for the past four years, was elected President Emeritus of the ILA. Benny Holland, Jr., from Galveston, Texas was elevated to Executive Vice President. Previously he served as the union's General Vice President, a position that was filled with the election of Stephen Knott of New Jersey. Robert E. Gleason, Secretary-Treasurer; Gerald Owens, General Organizer and John D. Baker, Assistant General Organizer were re-elected to their respective positions.

      The ILA's Executive Council saw only one change among its 25 Vice Presidents representing all ILA ports areas from Maine to Texas, the Great Lakes, Canada and Puerto Rico. Willie J. Seymore from the Port of Savannah was elected International Vice President replacing Benjamin Bryan. Thomas Little was formally elected International Vice President from the Port of Hampton Roads, after serving for two years as Acting Vice President following the death in 2009 of Edward L. Brown, Sr.

      The Atlantic Coast District, International Longshoremen's Association held their convention last week where Dennis Daggett was elected District President, James Stolpinski, District Secretary-Treasurer and Michael J. Vigneron was re-elected Vice President and later elevated to General Vice President. Four new Vice President joined the ACD Board: Larry A. Bachtell from Hampton Road; Don Marcus from the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots and James Cocchia and John Daggett from New Jersey.