ILWU members elect new leadership team: Olvera, Whitman, Wolff, and Ferris

​Coast Committeemen Williams & Ponce De Leon sworn
in with new International Executive Board members,Titled Officers

A new leadership team– led by International President Bobby Olvera, Jr., Vice President (Mainland) Ryan Whitman, Vice President (Hawaii) Brandon Wolff, and returning Secretary-Treasurer Ed Ferris–was sworn in by outgoing International President Willie Adams at the ILWU’s International Executive Board meeting in San Francisco on October 29. Bobby Olvera, Jr. becomes the ILWU’s 8th International President. Ed Ferris was elected to his third term as Secretary-Treasurer.

Pres. Olvera thanked Adams for his steady leadership, for steering the union through a difficult six years, and for “clearing the deck” so the incoming administration would have the opportunity to grow and strengthen the union in the next three years.

Executive Board certifies results

The International Balloting Committee met in San Francisco on October 4 to examine and count the ballots. On October 29 the International Executive Board met in San Francisco where they reviewed both the Balloting and Election Procedures Committee reports and following a brief discussion, voted unanimously to accept both reports and certify the election results. Following the certification, the Titled Officers, Coast Committeemen, and Executive Board members were sworn in. Recognition for Adams After taking their oath of office, the new officers were joined by guests in the courtyard of the International Offices where a bronze plaque was unveiled naming the courtyard in honor of President Emeritus Willie Adams. Adams thanked the new officers for the recognition. “Twenty-one years went by so fast. I never would have thought I would receive an honor like this and it means a lot to me,” he said.