The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) is a labor union representing dockworkers, or stevedores, in the United States and Canada. The ILA is the largest union of maritime workers in North America and is part of the AFL-CIO. The ILA negotiates wages, benefits, and working conditions for its members, who are responsible for loading and unloading cargo from ships. The ILA is also involved in organizing and protecting the rights of its members. The acronym STEVEDORES' GRP. stands for Stevedores' Group, which is the name of the ILA's bargaining unit.