1980s, cotton canvas and paint
The Hamilton Union of Unemployed (HUU) was founded in 1978.
Unions of unemployed persons came out of Canada’s recession in the early 80s. By mid-1982, Canada was suffering from its worst recession since before the Second World War. Unemployment was high, at 10.8%. The recession hit Hamilton, Ontario, particularly hard. Companies laid off thousands, and hundreds more permanently lost their jobs to plant closures.
Hamilton’s Union of Unemployed formed in 1982, and made housing one of its key priorities. HUU campaigned for affordable housing, and advocated for those fighting evictions. HUU also successfully campaigned for unemployed workers to pay half-price bus fares.