Savannah native Tommy Stokes III will be sworn in next month as the new president of Local 1414 of the International Longshoremen’s Association, a linchpin of the local maritime community whose members play a vital role in the success of Savannah’s deepwater port.
A veteran dockworker and well known gospel and jazz musician, the 52-year-old Stokes has been a member of Local 1414 for 33 years. He has been an alternate trustee for the ILA Pension and Welfare Fund and has served for seven years on the seniority and grievance committee.
He served three years on the wILA contract committee and was part of the contract team from Savannah that was instrumental in negotiating the recent six-year contract between labor and management.
A graduate of Windsor Forest High School, he attended Savannah State University. He and his wife, Denise, have three children. His son, Thomas Stokes IV, has been a member of Local 1414 for six years.
He sat down with the Savannah Morning News recently to talk about his vision for the 2,000-member organization.
Q. How did you get started as a longshoreman?
A.“My father, a longshoreman with 1414 for 41 years, introduced me at 19 while I was still at Savannah State. I started as a gear man — the one who supplies the equipment the dockworkers need — working vessels with Stevens Shipping. From there, I was all over the Savannah waterfront.
“I’ve worked on the docks and ‘in the hole’ of the ship, stacking sacks and moving paper rolls back in the day when we didn’t have forklifts on board and had to manhandle everything.
“I’ve driven lift trucks and tractor trailers, did latching — securing cargo on board a vessel — and working ship side. I’ve worked cranes and lines, and I’ve been a foreman, working alongside the stevedoring companies.”
Q. How will all that experience serve you as you prepare to lead Local 1414?
A.“Because I haven’t come to a leadership position the traditional way — moving up the ladder as a member of the executive committee — I think I have a unique perspective. Mine is definitely a ‘rank and file’ mindset, so my concerns generally mirror the concerns of the membership as a whole.
“My role, as I see it, is to prepare our members for the future and to make sure we have all the tools we need to succeed and grow along with this thriving port.”
Q. What kinds of tools do you see your membership needing as the port grows?
A. “There are a number of short-term and long-term goals I’d like to implement, but my main focus is going to be on two things: Technology and training.
“Harbor deepening is going to be a real game changer here, even before it’s finished. When those huge megaships start coming through the Panama Canal in 2015, this port — already the fourth busiest in the country — will start getting even busier.
“We need to upgrade our computer systems and other technology and become proficient on them before that happens. In a business where time is money, we have to be ready with both the training and the technology to help us work as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible.”
Q. What other plans do you have for the organization?
A.“I ran my campaign on a platform of trust, representation and communication. Those elements will form the basis of my presidency. Because I have come from the rank and file, I won’t be asking anyone to do a job I haven’t done and I hope the membership will know that their best interests will always be first and foremost with me.
“I will work to improve benefits for our members and retirees, work to help our members make better choices when it comes to available jobs and make sure our female members have opportunities to move into positions of leadership.
“I also plan to appoint a public relations committee that will help get our story and the contributions we make to Savannah’s economy out to more people.”
Q. What is your percentage of female members, and what kinds of jobs can they do?
A.“The percentage of female members is still fairly small — I’d say 2 to 3 percent. But it’s growing, and I want to make sure our female members know they have the same opportunities to advance and be part of leadership.
“We are constantly evolving as an organization. Gone are the days when the only work we did was backbreaking physical labor. We still do that, but many of our jobs today are neither as physical nor as dangerous as they once were.
“Today, a well-trained and physically fit woman could handle the majority of the jobs we do.”
Q. What do you mean when you say you want to help your members make better choices of available jobs?
A.“Right now, when a member signs on to work a ship, he or she doesn’t always have the information to know how long the job will last. Some ships take 12 to 15 hours to work and others are done in 6 hours, which makes it tough for those who have to arrange child care, for example.
“Also, some members need to work the longer shifts, while others may have already worked a significant number of hours in a given week.
It’s the little things, like trying to make a ship’s move count available a day in advance, that will help give our members a better sense of the job.”
Q. What do you see as your relationship with Georgia Ports Authority?
A.“I would hope it will continue to be as good as it has been in recent years. This is a very well-run port, and we respect what the GPA leadership has done to make it so successful and competitive.
“We like to think we play a role in that as well and will continue to support this port by making sure we are ready to take on what comes — not just with added manpower but with a well-trained, professional labor pool.”
Q. What have you learned from the previous leadership that will serve you well in your new office?
A.“Willie (Seymore) has been a great mentor. I have worked under his guidance, and I’ve watched him work. I am glad to still be able to work with him in his role as the international vice president.”