International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU)Article Free
Pass International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU),
former industrial union in the United States and Canada that
represented workers in the women’s clothing industry. When the
ILGWU was formed in 1900, most of its members were Jewish
immigrants employed in sweatshops—i.e., small manufacturing
establishments that employed workers under unfair and unsanitary
conditions. Successful strikes in 1909 and 1910 in New York City
by the ILGWU resulted in a “protocol of peace” between the
women’s clothing industry and labour. The protocol greatly
improved conditions for the garment-makers; wages were
increased, working hours were reduced, the union was recognized
by the clothing manufacturers, and a board of arbitration was
established to handle labour-management disputes. David
Dubinsky, who later served as the union’s president from 1932 to
1966, led a successful battle against a communist attempt to
gain control of the ILGWU in the 1920s. When re