Back in December 2023, ILA President Harold J. Daggett was invited by Pope Francis, the Head of the Catholic Church, to send a delegation of ILA leaders to meet with the Holy Father at the Vatican in Rome. These dockworker union leaders met with him in early January 2204, and the pope used the gathering to offer Papal blessings for all dockworkers around the world.
“I am deeply honored that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has honored me and the ILA with this invitation to meet with him and receive blessings for ILA members and their families,” said ILA President Harold J. Daggett. “Pope Francis has indicated that his blessings will extend to those waterfront longshore unions like ours that we may negotiate a great contract for our members.”
“Pope Francis has great love and respect for workers around the world, and he is especially fond of longshore workers,” said President Daggett.
The ILA leader said the Pope’s invitation to all dockworker leaders from around the world speak volumes to the respect he has for them and the work they do representing waterfront workers.
“To offer prayers for our ILA members and their families and blessings that we negotiate a good contract for them is truly a wonderful Christmas gift to our union and its members,” said President Daggett. “We thank His Holiness, Pope Francis, for recognizing the value and contributions of dockworkers in America and around the world.”
Yesterday, Daggett announced a Dockworkers Union strike, promising to cripple the US. His union is demanding a 77% pay increase raise for dockworkers.
They’re going to be like this [choking himself]. Whose gonna win here in the long run? You’re better off sitting down, and let’s get a contract, and let’s move on with this world. Because in today’s world, I’ll cripple ya. I will cripple you. And you have no idea what that means. Nobody does.
I guess his papal ‘blessing’ didn’t provide a work ethic.
Or maybe it did.
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“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23).