Paul Kevin Trani 1964-2021

Paul Trani, former President of ILWU Local 63, passed away on August 12 at the age of 57. Paul was a dedicated trade unionist who was devoted to the ILWU and his family.

Paul also served as delegate to the Longshore Division Caucus and was a ILWU Convention delegate. On December 6, 1986, he married the love of his life, Laurie, and together they raised three children Brittany, Jacob, and Baylee. Paul comes from a long line of dockworkers that started with his great-grandfather who immigrated to the United States from Italy.

“My great-grandfather started down here, then my grandfather, Paul Vincent, and then my dad, Paul Vernon, and then myself, Paul Kevin. I say our middle names because we all have Paul in our names. At home, we go by our middle names, but down the waterfront, we are all ‘Pauls,’” Trani said in an interview conducted by the Harry Bridges Institute for a film about his family.

By the time Paul graduated high school, sponsorship into the ILWU was no longer permitted, so his father helped him get a job as a non-union vessel planner with Marine Terminals in 1983.

Although he had a good job on the waterfront, the lack of stability was a source of stress for the Trani family trying to raise young children.

“If you got laid off, you would go home and wait until there’s another job opening someplace else,” Trani said. “It was a good job while you had it. But once you got laid off, you had nothing.”

Paul became a member for ILWU Local 63 in 1998, just in time for the birth of his daughter, Baylee, when his unit was organized into the ILWU.

“When I got laid off, the first time my wife was pregnant with our first child. Fast forward a few years, and my wife was pregnant with our third child. I got to go visit my wife at the hospital and showed her the contract that I had just signed and told her she can call her employer and quit her job and stay home with our baby.”

In 2016, Paul was elected President of Local 63. Paul said that the accomplishment he was most proud of during his tenure was the organizing of the superintendents into the local.

“We organized a lot of the super[1]intendents on the docks. I shared my story and got to explain to them how for me, everything came full circle. I was sitting in their shoes once before and now, I’m president of Local 63 and I’m helping to organize them. That was the most rewarding thing that we did while I was in office, not just for them, but also for what we did for their families. That was absolutely the best thing.”

“The news of brother Trani’s passing was devastating to the officers, staff, and membership of our local,” said Local 63 President Mike Podue. “Paul served in several Local 63 offices and was a true advocate and relentless fighter for union jurisdiction-and that’s a good thing. Paul will be missed not only by Local 63 members, but also by ILWU members up and down the West Coast. On behalf of ILWU Local 63, I would like to thank the International and Coast Committee Officers, as well as the officers and members throughout this great union for all of the sincere sympathies expressed to Paul’s family and our local. Paul was a loving father and husband. Our deepest and most sincere condolences go to Paul’s family, Lori, Brittany, Paul “Jacob”, and Baylee Trani.” “We lost a true leader and a great friend with the passing of Paul Trani,” said ILWU International President Wil[1]lie Adams. “This loss is felt throughout our union.”

“Paul Kevin Trani III was a dedicated member of the ILWU for many years,” said ILWU International Secretary-Treasurer Ed Ferris. “His leader[1]ship and affable nature will be missed by all of us who were fortunate enough to know him. Rest in peace always, Brother Paul.”