Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
- ILGWU
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1900-1995
History
The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union was formed in 1900 in New York City with the goal of uniting workers of various crafts in the women’s garment industry. The ILGWU established the Montreal Joint Council in 1911, and solidified its presence there in the 1930s. Their activities involved uniting local trade guilds, providing education to members, and organizing and negotiating strikes. Two large-scale strikes organized by the Montreal Joint Council in 1937 and 1940 resulted in major concessions to workers, including increased wages and reduced hours. In 1995, the ILGWU merged with the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU) to form the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE).