Summit Program
A five-day program of testimony, safety, claims education, public policy, and district-wide standard-operating-procedure development.
Wednesday
September 9, 2026Arrival, Leadership & Welcome
- 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Registration & Hotel Check-In Support
Welcome packets, hotel desk support, QR code support, and testimony upload assistance.
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
District Leadership Coordination Meeting
President, vice presidents, district reps, and planning leads review goals, roles, and flow.
- 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Planning & Logistics Briefing
Final review of website, survey, flyers, testimony strategy, and moderator roles.
- 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM
Optional Stakeholder / Newcomer Orientation
Summit purpose, how to engage, and what the district is trying to accomplish.
- 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Welcome Reception
Networking, informal introductions, and a soft opening for stakeholders and leadership.
- 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Optional Fireside Conversation
Working title: Why This Summit Matters Now.
Thursday
September 10, 2026Opening, Human Impact, Policy & Stakeholders
- 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Breakfast & Networking
Open arrival and relationship-building window.
- 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Opening Ceremony
Welcome from district and local leadership, opening remarks, and summit purpose.
- 9:30 AM – 10:15 AM
Opening General Session: Why This Summit Matters
Frame the safety, claims, policy, and worker-support urgency.
- 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Featured Session: Voices from the Dock
Worker stories, family impact, and the human cost of delay.
- 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Featured Testimony Presentation
Randy Austin testimony feature and story campaign push.
- 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
District Overview Session
Survey update, stakeholder map, testimony effort, and known district themes.
- 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Public Policy Session
Protecting the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.
- 3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Stakeholder & Elected Official Panel
What policymakers and stakeholders need to hear from the dock.
- 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Evening Networking Reception
Stakeholder engagement, elected-official visibility, and leadership relationship building.
Friday
September 11, 2026Safety, Prevention, Judicial Delay & Claims Barriers
- 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Breakfast & Networking
Morning arrival and informal conversation.
- 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Featured Session: Safety Through the Eyes of the Worker
Role-based safety lens across checker, operator, crane, RTG, truck, yard, maintenance, and cargo positions.
- 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Breakout Round 1
Role-based safety breakouts by job function.
- 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Featured Legal / Process Session
Justice Delayed: why longshore cases take so long.
- 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
Claims-Process Session
From injury to outcome: what happens after a worker gets hurt.
- 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
Breakout Round 2
Doctor choice, denied benefits, hearing-loss claims, and judicial barriers.
- 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM
Report-Back Session
Each breakout shares top findings and recommendations.
- Evening
Free / Family / Optional Hosted Activity
Flexible scheduling for a destination summit model.
Saturday
September 12, 2026Solutions, Support Models, Data & SOP Workshop
- 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Breakfast & Networking
Morning reset and relationship time.
- 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Featured Solution Session
Who stands with the worker after injury? Labor-side support model.
- 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Data & District Strategy Session
What the district must track, measure, and build.
- 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Labor / Management / Prevention Session
Shared goals, accountability, cost, and prevention.
- 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Featured Workshop: Building the Standard
Create district-wide SOP recommendations.
- 3:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Breakout Round 3 – SOP Work Groups
Immediate response, treatment/support, claims/escalation, and serious injury/fatality support.
- 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM
SOP Report-Back & Recommendations
Identify common themes and next drafting steps.
- 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Leadership Dinner / Fireside / Recognition
Working title: Turning Awareness into Action.
Sunday
September 13, 2026Action Plan, Recommendations & Departure
- 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Breakfast & Networking
Final morning connection time.
- 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Recommendations Plenary
Review top findings and priority actions.
- 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Action Plan Session
What locals, the district, and the International should take home.
- 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Closing Summit Session
Final reflections, commitments, and leadership remarks.
- 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
Departure / Wrap-Up
Hotel departures and next-step reminders.
Breakout Sessions by Day
Small-group working sessions where members and stakeholders dig into safety, system barriers, and the standard operating procedures the district will take home.
Safety by Job Function
- Safety Through the Eyes of a Checker and Yard Driver
- Safety Through the Eyes of a Crane, RTG, and Equipment Operator
- Safety Through the Eyes of Truck Drivers, Van Drivers, and Cargo Teams
- Safety Through the Eyes of Maintenance and Terminal Support Teams
System Barriers
- Doctor Choice, Treatment Rights, and Medical Advocacy
- Denied, Delayed, and Cut-Off Benefits
- Hearing-Loss Claims and Overlooked Claim Types
- Judicial Delays, Hearings, and Legal Barriers
SOP Work Groups
- Immediate Injury Response SOP
- Medical, Treatment, and Worker Support SOP
- Claims, Reporting, and Escalation SOP
- Serious Injury, Fatality, and Family Support SOP
A major summit goal is to leave with draft district-wide standard operating procedures and a clearer action plan for locals, the district, and the International.
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