Officers

Bill A. Williams Jr. – President

President Williams graduated from La Porte High school in 2003 and attended Tyler Junior College from 2003-2005. He is a 3rd generation Longshoremen and began his career with the I.L.A. in April of 2005. His Grandfather Alton Clyde Williams (A.C.) worked for Local 1351 from January 3rd, 1956, until he retired August 1st, 1986. His father Bill Alton Williams Sr. has worked for I.L.A. Locals 24 & 1351 since April 1975 and presently holds the title of South Atlantic & Gulf Coast District Secretary Treasurer and International Vice President.

Bill Alton Williams Jr. started as a dedicated worker at the Turning Basin for P&O Ports working his way from a checker to prepping and clerking multiple Steamship lines that included, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, NYK (Volkswagen), IndoTrans, Pan Ocean steel ships, and Rickmers-Linie. Bill stayed at the Turning Basin for 8 years until he moved out to Barbour’s Cut Integrated Marine Services Container Yard (IMS) where he worked as a regular for 2 years before he was elected at the age of 29 as a Business Agent in 2014. While serving as a Business Agent & Executive Board Member from 2014 until 2017, Bill was also highly involved in the AFL-CIO and their program suited for Young Active Labor Leaders (YALL).

At the end of 2017, he was appointed to the office of the Vice President. While holding the title of Vice President, Bill worked hard to establish a new website and IT department while focusing on finding a new building location. In December of 2023 Bill was elected by his peers to the office of President for Local 1351. President Williams was selected to be a part of the 20-person small committee that negotiated the greatest master contract in Union labor history during the fall of 2024. He also brought back Vessel Planning jobs and negotiated the best Local contract ILA 1351 has ever seen. He has participated in several block walks, phone banks, and other political activities to help many labor endorsed candidates get elected. He has attended several Texas Labor Management Conferences as a board member since 2014, and he attributes the education from the workshops to his ability to handle the challenges of dealing with situations as a Union Official. Bill and his wife Ashley are happily married with 5 beautiful children Adissyn (19), Cade (16), Knox (15), Colt (13) and Grey (11).

T. Corey Robicheaux – Vice President

Thomas “Corey” Robicheaux proudly serves as our Vice President. In this role, he oversees daily operations within the union hiring hall and provides representation to the membership. This includes committees, hearings, and grievances while upholding and enforcing our constitution, bylaws, and collective bargaining agreements. Along with our team of officers and the executive board, Corey serves as a liaison between our union and local management.

Corey is a native Houstonian. He grew up in the northeast part of the city and completed high school at an early college program, simultaneously earning an Associate of Science degree from Houston Community College. Corey went on to graduate from the University of Houston in 2014, earning a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management with a minor in Sales and Marketing. In 2019, he furthered his education by completing a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. Corey is currently completing his Doctorate degree in Organizational Leadership (EdD) and expects to defend and graduate in the summer of 2025. 

Corey worked within the hospitality industry for several years before transitioning to an intermodal coordinator role with a container line early in his career. After joining the ILA, Corey worked diverse cargoes and quickly gained leadership opportunities in both the clerk and longshore arenas. This included steel/breakbulk checker, warehouse clerk, timekeeper, truck driver, walking foreman, CWS, and most notably CIC for RORO and automobile operations with Ceres Gulf and APS stevedores. Corey was elected to the ILA 1351 Audit Committee in December of 2018, and appointed to Business Agent in August of 2019; beginning his service on the executive board and bylaw committee. In December of 2023, he was elected Vice President at the age of 29! Beyond the hall, Corey has served as a delegate to the Houston Dock and Marine Council, the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District & ILA International Conventions, and the Texas AFL-CIO. Corey is also a board member of the ILA 1351 Federal Credit Union, serving as Treasurer, as well as a board member of the Texas Labor Management Conference, serving the executive committee at large. 

During his leisure time, Corey indulges in his passion for travel, whether embarking on international adventures or on RV road trips. His hands are kept full by his two loving rescue canines: Kibi and Kodi. Corey aspires to lead a lifetime of purposeful service to his family, union, community, industry, and beyond.

Paul D. Johnson – Secretary Treasurer

Paul Johnson is a graduate of LaPorte High School and studied business accounting at the University of Texas at Tyler before being hired through the ILA in 2005. Working in various positions and capacities for Local 1351, he has worked for many of the different stevedores on the Houston Waterfront. He has also worked as a regular employee for Richardson Stevedores in the city docks, Integrated Marine Services and Cooper Ports America at Barbour’s Cut Terminal. Paul has proudly served as Business agent, Executive Board Member, Contract Committee, Convention Delegate, and is the current Secretary Treasurer of ILA 1351 since 2020. Paul takes great pride in maintaining the duties of his position and striving to help make ILA 1351 as successful as possible. 

Paul Johnson is a third-generation member of the ILA, following the path of his Grandfather, David R. Johnson, a late member of ILA Local 24 and Father, David P. Johnson, a member of ILA Local 1351. Paul and His wife, Alexandria, and son Koe reside in Friendswood, Texas.