Newly Re-Elected District President Clyde Fitzgerald Looks To Build On Positive Outcome of Recent South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District Convention
Clyde Fitzgerald looked back on last week’s 89th Convention (11th Biennial Convention of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District, International Longshoremen’s Association, AFL-CIO and enjoyed the view. Not only was Mr. Fitzgerald re-elected to a third four-year term as president of the District, as well as all other members of his Administration, but President Fitzgerald also relished the fact that all District sponsored resolutions proposed were passed unanimously. And so, as he looks forward, Mr. Fitzgerald likes the image even better.
Any dissention that may have marked previous District conventions was absent from the 89th Convention, held at the Riverfront Marriott in Savannah, Georgia. It was replaced by solidarity and cooperation.
“We came together as one in unity,” surmised Clyde Fitzgerald just moments after his unanimous re-election to lead the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District. “Delegates who may have come to the convention with dissenting opinions were united by the end of the meetings.”
A few months earlier, President Fitzgerald admitted to feeling slight apprehension heading toward the Savannah Convention. Last year, ILA Wage Scale delegates negotiated a new two-year contract extension which went on to be ratified overwhelmingly by a two to one margin by ILA members. With the contract now in effect since last October, the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District convention marked the first occasion that many ILA local leaders came together for a chance to discuss the pros and cons of the new pact.
If ILA members were not happy with the new contract extension, their displeasure may have been reflected in a contentious convention or the adoption of harsh resolutions or challenges to re-election bids. None of that happened.
Though the Convention’s Resolutions committee met for several marathon sessions over a couple of days with issues thoroughly discussed, President Fitzgerald was elated with the committee’s final results. The unanimous adoption of all District sponsored resolutions will allow Mr. Fitzgerald to more easily incorporate his programs, strategies and vision he believes will make the District even stronger and healthier in the years ahead.
The District continues to look for ways to more carefully use its assets to best represent and protect the rank-and-file members. One District sponsored and passed resolution called for Conventions to be held once every four years, instead of the current system of holding them every two years. District President Fitzgerald assured convention delegates that this resolution did not mean the ILA would only convene as full body every four years. His District, Fitzgerald pledged, would host yearly joint Dock and Marine Council meetings bringing together all Southeast and Gulf ILA Locals to handle current issues.
Further evidence of strong support from Convention delegates for the job performance by their President Clyde Fitzgerald was re-electing Mr. Fitzgerald and his entire Administration to another four-year term on the final day of the Convention.
In addition to President Fitzgerald’s re-election as District President for a third term, also re-elected were Michael Dickens as Secretary-Treasurer; Charles Spencer as Executive Vice President; Wilbur Rowell as Assistant Secretary-Treasurer and Benny Holland, Jr., as President Emeritus. The District’s three regions returned their six Vice Presidents each to their respective posts.
From the West Gulf: Lash Chretien, Hillery Langley, Larry Sopchak, Tommy Isbell, James Eli and E.L. “Ted” O’Rourke. From the East Gulf: James McCleland, Donald Evans, Ronald Robinson, James Campbell, Dwayne Boudreaux and Lloyd Irvin. From the South Atlantic: Clarence Pittman, Jess Babich, Henry Rose, Benjamin Bryan, Kenneth Riley and Gerardo Becerra.
The South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District believes aggressive organizing campaigns are essential for the union’s future growth and even survival. The Executive Board of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District heard from their newest staff member, Derrick Hamilton, who was brought in this past year by President Fitzgerald as an organizer for the District. At the District Board meeting, Mr. Hamilton said: “We have to get our membership engaged in our organizing campaigns. They cannot be fearful or feel threatened about growing our union. We have a lot of resources.”
“We feel good moving forward,” reflected Clyde Fitzgerald. “All issues and challenges we face in the future will be handled in-house by our strong and supportive ILA members and not by dissident groups our outsiders.”
Any dissention that may have marked previous District conventions was absent from the 89th Convention, held at the Riverfront Marriott in Savannah, Georgia. It was replaced by solidarity and cooperation.
“We came together as one in unity,” surmised Clyde Fitzgerald just moments after his unanimous re-election to lead the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District. “Delegates who may have come to the convention with dissenting opinions were united by the end of the meetings.”
A few months earlier, President Fitzgerald admitted to feeling slight apprehension heading toward the Savannah Convention. Last year, ILA Wage Scale delegates negotiated a new two-year contract extension which went on to be ratified overwhelmingly by a two to one margin by ILA members. With the contract now in effect since last October, the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District convention marked the first occasion that many ILA local leaders came together for a chance to discuss the pros and cons of the new pact.
If ILA members were not happy with the new contract extension, their displeasure may have been reflected in a contentious convention or the adoption of harsh resolutions or challenges to re-election bids. None of that happened.
Though the Convention’s Resolutions committee met for several marathon sessions over a couple of days with issues thoroughly discussed, President Fitzgerald was elated with the committee’s final results. The unanimous adoption of all District sponsored resolutions will allow Mr. Fitzgerald to more easily incorporate his programs, strategies and vision he believes will make the District even stronger and healthier in the years ahead.
The District continues to look for ways to more carefully use its assets to best represent and protect the rank-and-file members. One District sponsored and passed resolution called for Conventions to be held once every four years, instead of the current system of holding them every two years. District President Fitzgerald assured convention delegates that this resolution did not mean the ILA would only convene as full body every four years. His District, Fitzgerald pledged, would host yearly joint Dock and Marine Council meetings bringing together all Southeast and Gulf ILA Locals to handle current issues.
Further evidence of strong support from Convention delegates for the job performance by their President Clyde Fitzgerald was re-electing Mr. Fitzgerald and his entire Administration to another four-year term on the final day of the Convention.
In addition to President Fitzgerald’s re-election as District President for a third term, also re-elected were Michael Dickens as Secretary-Treasurer; Charles Spencer as Executive Vice President; Wilbur Rowell as Assistant Secretary-Treasurer and Benny Holland, Jr., as President Emeritus. The District’s three regions returned their six Vice Presidents each to their respective posts.
From the West Gulf: Lash Chretien, Hillery Langley, Larry Sopchak, Tommy Isbell, James Eli and E.L. “Ted” O’Rourke. From the East Gulf: James McCleland, Donald Evans, Ronald Robinson, James Campbell, Dwayne Boudreaux and Lloyd Irvin. From the South Atlantic: Clarence Pittman, Jess Babich, Henry Rose, Benjamin Bryan, Kenneth Riley and Gerardo Becerra.
The South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District believes aggressive organizing campaigns are essential for the union’s future growth and even survival. The Executive Board of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District heard from their newest staff member, Derrick Hamilton, who was brought in this past year by President Fitzgerald as an organizer for the District. At the District Board meeting, Mr. Hamilton said: “We have to get our membership engaged in our organizing campaigns. They cannot be fearful or feel threatened about growing our union. We have a lot of resources.”
“We feel good moving forward,” reflected Clyde Fitzgerald. “All issues and challenges we face in the future will be handled in-house by our strong and supportive ILA members and not by dissident groups our outsiders.”