Veteran Savannah longshoreman Willie Seymore has been elected executive vice president of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast district of the International Longshoremen’s Association, making him the No. 2 ILA executive for ports from North Carolina to Texas.
Seymore’s unanimous election marks the first time a Savannah longshoreman has held the position and acknowledges the role he played last year as a member of the ILA negotiating team that helped hammer out a new six-year contract before a strike could shut down ports from Maine to Corpus Christi.
In fact, it was Seymore — with talks coming down to the wire — whose call for an 11th hour vote was seconded and resulted in the acceptance of a contract.
“We all knew what was at stake and what we were able to avoid,” he said shortly after. “We were close to shutting down the eastern half of our country to commerce.”
As well as avoiding economic disaster, the agreement restored his faith in the process of collective bargaining, Seymore said.
Cooperation has been the hallmark of Seymore’s leadership, whether it was as president of Savannah’s ILA Local 1414 or on the national stage.
“It’s all about the big picture,” he said. “We have to make sure we don’t forget about the customers who make all of this happen.
“Without them, we’d have nothing to negotiate.”
His job in Savannah has been easier, he said, because of the relationship between labor and management here.
“We have one of the greatest port directors I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing,” he said. “Curtis Foltz and his staff never leave us out when it comes to making decisions; it has led to a true partnership.”
Seymore cited Foltz’s reaction during negotiations when he was asked about Georgia Ports Authority’s contingency plans for a potential work stoppage at fourth-busiest port in the country.
“He said there were no contingency plans – that the port would respect the ILA’s jurisdiction,” Seymore said. “That quote reverberated with every ILA local from Maine to Texas. It made me realize how fortunate we are to partner with the Georgia Ports to promote the shipping industry that’s so vital to all of us.”
The feeling is mutual.
“Savannah and the ILA are extremely fortunate to have Mr. Seymore as the executive vice president of the South Atlantic and Gulf,” Foltz said Tuesday. “His leadership and vision have been key to the growth at our ports. In his new position, he will further solidify the important role our ports play.
“Willie has become a true friend, and I look forward to many years of collaboration on improved ways to better service our customers through enhanced efficiency, reliability, flexibility and safety.”
That strong connection is one Seymore and Tommy Stokes, president of ILA Local 1414, are determined to maintain.
“We owe that to the thousands of men and women in Savannah and Brunswick who rely on the shipping industry to take care of their families,” Seymore said.
Stokes, who took the reins of 1414 this year, agreed.
“Willie and I have been members of this local for more than 30 years,” he said. “But it was when I became part of the leadership team some seven years ago that I was in a position to watch and learn from Willie.
“We share a mutual desire to see the Port of Savannah grow and prosper.”
Seymore’s new position will be a definite plus for his home local, Stokes said.
“It’s good to know we have his ear,” he said. “His leadership on the national level is good for us and good for the port.”
Indeed, Stokes already has Seymore’s support for an initiative to reach out to area high schools to let young men and women know there is an alternative to violence and crime.
Both men see it as an opportunity to change a culture.
“A lot of our young people graduate from high school only to discover they can’t find the kind of job that will support a family. We want to introduce them to a professional career that doesn’t require college but will allow them to earn as much or more than a college graduate,” Stokes said.
“Tommy is right. We can make a difference as opportunities at our port expand,” Seymore said.
“We had 245 ships call on our port last month. We are setting records and then breaking those records. There is a tremendous amount of work available for people who are willing to learn and work hard.”
As he takes on his latest role, Seymore said he could have accomplished nothing without the steadfast support of his wife of 46 years.
“Rosalind has been my rock, the link in the chain that keeps everything in the family running smoothly so I can go do what I need to do.
“I am truly blessed.”