Our Mission
To investigate, deter, combat and remedy criminal activity and influence in the Port of New York and to ensure fair hiring and employment practices so that the Port and region can grow and prosper.
Core Functions
Licensing
The Commission licenses companies and individuals that handle or perform services incidental to the handling of containerized cargo in the Port of New York, and oversees the daily hiring of workers to ensure compliance with applicable rules, regulations and industry seniority provisions. The Commission monitors the longshore workers' register to balance the workforce with the demand for labor and to ensure fair and nondiscriminatory hiring.
Investigations
Working with federal, state and local law enforcement partners, the Commission conducts complex long-term investigations into labor racketeering and organized crime. The Commission also investigates potential violations of the Waterfront Commission Act, including prohibited associations with organized crime figures and career criminals.
Enforcement
The Commission conducts disciplinary proceedings to deny or revoke licensure for individuals who do not meet the necessary legal standards to work on the waterfront, to ensure that those who pose a danger to the public peace or safety or lack the requisite good character and integrity are barred from port employment.
History
Although law enforcement’s efforts against traditional organized crime influence have been successful, such influence remains a significant threat in the New York metropolitan area, particularly in the Port. Continued oversight is essential to ensure fair and nondiscriminatory hiring practices, to eliminate labor racketeering and the victimization of legitimate union members and port businesses, and to prevent organized crime figures from directly operating at the critical points of interstate and international shipping. In 2023, the New York Waterfront Commission was enacted to carry on that mission in the Port of New York.