Labor Day Salute to All Who Keep Maritime Commerce Moving

By Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves Port Director and CEO

As we do every Labor Day, the Galveston Wharves observes this federal holiday by recognizing the thousands of men and women who work on the Galveston waterfront to keep our economy moving. We would not be the fourth most popular cruise homeport in North America and a major U.S. cargo port without this dedicated workforce.

Jobs Growth Forecast

The Port of Galveston fuels a maritime industry that generates more than 14,000 jobs to provide household incomes for thousands of families in our region. We can expect strong jobs growth as our cruise business ramps up with more sailings and larger cruise ships homeporting in Galveston. Our diverse cargo business also remains steady.

Union labor hours reached more than 650,000 in 2023, the highest number in years. As we add our fourth cruise terminal at Pier 16 and expand our West Port Cargo Complex by one-third, we expect a big increase in good-paying labor hours in the next few years.

In addition, the $156 million cruise terminal complex and the $90 million cargo complex infrastructure improvements are creating hundreds of construction jobs at the port.

Jobs Diversity

The port and its business partners rely on skilled union workers to move everything from enormous wind tower pieces to construction equipment and new BMWs. Ship pilots, tugboat crews and line handlers work around the clock to move ships in and out of Galveston Harbor.

On the cruise side, hundreds of onshore staff, including parking shuttle drivers, union baggage handlers, security officers, greeters, and check-in staff, will handle more than 3 million passenger movements through our three terminals in 2024.

I also want to recognize our business partners, including stevedores, shipping companies, tenants, rail operators, truckers and, of course, the port staff of more than 100 employees.

ILA: Backbone of the Our Waterfront

The skilled and dedicated men and women of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) are the backbone of our waterfront.

Our three ILA groups have different jurisdictions and responsibilities. ILA Local 20 moves cargo on and off the ships. ILA 1504-8, chartered in 1933 by the ILA African American Warehouse Local, moves cargo once it's off the ships. ILA Local 1665, historically known as the clerks and checkers, coordinates, logs and tracks cargo movements.

All three labor groups closely coordinate to move tons of cargo safely and seamlessly through the Port of Galveston around the clock. They do this in coordination with port staff, stevedores, ship lines, pilots and others.

Union workers are also in the people business. Cruise passengers can thank ILA workers for greeting them at the curb and getting their luggage safely on and off the ship. ILA workers resupply cruise ships with food, beverages, cleaning supplies and just about everything else a cruise ship needs.

Their dedication and hard work have helped us build a reputation as a port that takes great care of its customers.

As we celebrate this Labor Day, join me in recognizing the contributions of our port's union workers - and all the workers who have built and contribute to our nation's strength and prosperity.

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