A Defender of Blue-Collar Workers Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), has long been known as a passionate defender of blue-collar workers. As a vocal advocate for labor protections, Daggett has consistently championed the rights of dockworkers and longshoremen, particularly in securing a share of the profits made by port companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. His strong stance on worker rights has placed him at the forefront of recent labor disputes, especially as the ILA strikes at ports across the United States.
The ILA, under Daggett’s leadership, launched a major strike after the union’s six-year contract with the US Maritime Alliance (USMX) expired. The strike, which has halted operations at ports nationwide, is a bold move to negotiate better wages and working conditions for the union’s members. Harold Daggett has been clear about the potential impact of the strike on the US economy, stating, “I’ll cripple you. I will cripple you, and you have no idea what that means.”
While Harold Daggett has positioned himself as a strong advocate for workers’ rights, his personal lifestyle has drawn criticism. The 78-year-old union leader, who hails from Sparta, New Jersey, lives in a 7,136 square-foot home valued at $1.7 million. Additionally, Daggett drives a Bentley and once owned a 76-foot yacht named Obsession. Critics have pointed to these luxuries, highlighting a disconnect between his lavish life and his role as a representative of blue-collar workers.
The contrast between Daggett’s lifestyle and his union boss persona gained further attention when Tesla CEO Elon Musk made a joke about the union leader owning more yachts than him. Musk, who has been a vocal critic of labor unions, used the comment to highlight his belief that unions can slow down progress and create unnecessary bureaucracy. The mention of the yacht and Daggett’s high earnings—$728,000 from the ILA last year, with an additional $173,000 from ILA Local 1804-1—has sparked debate about his alignment with the interests of the working class.
Despite the criticism, Daggett’s career as a union leader has spanned over six decades, and he remains a powerful figure in the labor movement. He is a third-generation ILA member and has served four terms as the president of the union, which represents over 85,000 workers across the United States. His experience and tenure in the industry have earned him respect among many, though his personal choices continue to raise eyebrows.
Harold Daggett’s legacy as a union leader is marked by his relentless advocacy for workers’ rights, but it is also complicated by his luxurious lifestyle. As the ILA strike continues to impact the US economy, Daggett’s actions—and his personal life—will likely remain under scrutiny. For many, he represents both the power of labor leadership and the contradictions that can arise when those in power enjoy privileges far beyond the reach of those they represent.
