Harold Daggett is an American labor union leader. He is the President of the North American labor union, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA). Daggett is known for leading the post-strike on the East and Gulf coasts. As of 2024, Harold Daggett’s net worth is approximately $5 million.
| Full Name | Harold Daggett |
| Born Place | Manhattan, New York, United States |
| Date of Birth | May 12, 1946 |
| Age | 78 years old |
| Profession | Union Leader |
| Wife | Not Available |
Early Life and Rise to Fame
Harold Daggett was born in Lower Manhattan, New York, on May 12, 1946. His dad, Harold Daggett Sr., was a long-time International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) member. Harold is a third-generation ILA member and became a member of ILA in 1967 at 21 years of age.
Regarding his education, he completed his high school graduation from the William Cullen Bryant High School. Then, he studied at Cardinal Farley Military Academy in New York. Following graduation, he joined the U. S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Daggett began his professional journey with ILA Local 1804-1, as a mechanic.
Later, he decided to carry forward his dad’s legacy as a longshoreman. Within the union, he advanced through various roles. While working at ILA Local 1804-1, he stepped into the high position as Secretary-Treasurer, and Business Agent.
How did Harold Daggett become famous?
Harold Daggett gained prominence as the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) leader. He has dedicated more than six decades to negotiating labor contracts, advocating for dockworkers, and ensuring they get fair wages. He started his professional career after joining the ILA in 1967.
Daggett joined the ILA after working in the U. S. Navy in Vietnam. At ILA, he moved up to the highest rank. Initially, he worked as a mechanic and then progressed as a Secretary-Treasurer of Local 1804-1. He eventually led the Port Newark mechanics loyal as a president.
Harold mainly focused on protecting workers from the negative impact of automation. The labor organization ILA represents longshore workers against the Gulf Coast, the East Coast, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Great Lakes, and the West Coast inland waterways. Under his leadership, the labor organization has negotiated several landmark contracts, ensuring its members stand firm as the best in compensation compared to blue-collar workers in the U.S.
Daggett has been raising concerns about port automation, claiming it is a significant threat to jobs and livelihoods. He gained national attention at ports across the United States during recent strikes. The strike is considered the first coast-wide strike in 1977.
Harold joined the union members on October 1, 2024, kicking off the union’s first-ever strike, demanding to be secured against automation and higher wages. The strike became more potent on the second day, as the port operators and longshoremen confronted the Gulf of Mexico ports, and 14 central East Coast shutting down.
More than 25,000 workers with the ILA participated in the strike, representing ocean carriers and terminal operators. The ILA is looking for a 77% wage increment and a complete ban on using automated containers and cranes. The union workers were getting a yearly base salary of around $81,000. As automation was introduced, the union started taking automation as an existential threat to the standard of living.
Harold Daggett’s Relationship History
Harold Daggett is a family man with two sons, John and Dennis, and a daughter. He also has six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His son, Dennis, is the most notable kid involved in the family legacy, serving as the executive vice president of the ILA.
Daggett faced significant challenges in his personal life. In 2005, the U. S. Justice Department accused him of being an associate of the Genovese crime family. Following the accusation, he and his fellow ILA members were charged with extortion conspiracy. Along with that, they were charged with mail and fraud conspiracy. Later, Harold and the ILA member were acquitted.
Daggett has also garnered attention for his relationship with prominent political figures, including Donald Trump. Their interactions received wide attention after a meeting held in 2023 where the former US President expressed support for ongoing labor disputes and longshoremen.
However, his connection with Trump raised eyebrows as a labor union leader, as Trump often receives criticism for his stance on labor issues. Along with all the controversies, Daggett has positioned himself as a fierce leader and advocate for blue-collar workers.
What is Harold Daggett Net Worth in 2024?
As of 2024, Harold Daggett’s net worth is roughly $5 million. He has achieved a solid financial status primarily through his reputed position at the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA). According to Newsweek, Daggett received a base salary of $728,000 from the ILA in 2023. As a president emeritus of Local 1804-1, he received $173,000, bringing total earnings up to $901,000 in that year.
Harold owns a luxurious mansion in Sparta, New Jersey. He resides in a 7,136-square-foot mansion valued at nearly $2.4 million. The elegant house is located on a 10-acre lot. Additionally, he owns a massive property in Highland Beach, Florida, valued at approximately $1.4 million.
Daggett is known for enjoying a luxurious lifestyle. He reportedly owned a 76-foot yacht, “Obsession,” which he sold for around $3.8 million in 2021. Elon Musk, CEO of X, noticed Daggett owned many yachts and shared a post on X, claiming the labor union leader has more than him. Daggett has proved his worth as a labor union many times. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he consistently called out shipping companies and generated billions of dollars in work without compromising the ILA’s workers’ wages.
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