The Boston Shipping Association is committed to working with its maritime employer members, waterfront labor, and industry stakeholders to ensure stability for workers and economic prosperity for the Port of Boston, Massachusetts and the New England region.

How We Accomplish Our Mission

On behalf of its maritime employer members, the Boston Shipping Association (BSA) carries out its mission by facilitating collaboration between its members, labor unions and maritime stakeholders and by negotiating and administrating union collective bargaining agreements. Through its actions the BSA seeks to encourage the protection and growth of traditional maritime industries in the Port of Boston and emphasize the safety of those industries and their workers.    Copyright © 2020 Boston Shipping Association - All Rights Reserved.

Incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1946, the Association, commonly known as "BSA" was founded to administer the newly-created fringe benefits coming into Union contracts for the first time.   

With a diverse membership of firms comprising those steamship owners, agents, stevedores, terminal operators, and service organizations who employ waterfront labor, years of trial and progress led to the first modern longshore contracts in 1968 which established grievance procedures with fixed arbitration provisions, a successful Union-run Hiring Hall, and confirmed the joint labor/management handling of pension, health and welfare funds. 

The BSA is a member of the North Atlantic Ports Association, and member of the Boston Harbor Association, National Maritime Safety Association, American Association of Port Authorities and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. 

The Boston Shipping Association, Inc. is dedicated with pride to the progress of the Port.