Local 34 member Derrick Muhammad appointed to Oakland Port Commission

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee appointed Local 34 member Derrick Muhammad to the Oakland Port Commission. His appointment was unanimously confirmed by the City Council on July 1.

Muhammad is the first ILWU member to be appointed to the Oakland
Port Commission. “This is the first time a representative of the people who actually work at the port has been on the Port Commission,” said Mayor Lee. The Port of Oakland serves as a regional economic engine, playing a critical role in job creation, international trade, and regional development.

The Port Commission oversees the Oakland Airport, the Oakland Seaport, and nearly 20 miles of waterfront property, extending from West Oakland to East Oakland. Muhammad has been an ILWU member for more than 21 years, with 18.5 years as a member of Local 10 before transferring to Local 34.|

“I take great pride in being a longshoreman and coming through the ranks at Local 10, where I served as Business Agent and Secretary-Treasurer and worked hard to advance the ILWU and build relationships in the West Oakland community,” he said. “The ILWU is the largest maritime organization at the seaport, and it is long overdue that we have representation on the Port Commission. I bring an important first-hand perspective to the commission that will benefit the Port and the citizens of Oakland,” Muhammad said. “During my confirmation process, I spoke about the underutilized assets in the port. There are several berths that aren’t being used for industrial purposes. My goal is to attract companies to increase business and create more work opportunities in the port.”