Mid to late 20th century, screen printing on synthetic fibres
Donation of the UNITE Ontario Council

Union labels were common on all ILGWU-made goods as far back as 1910. This label not only let consumers know that a garment was union-made, but also used a code of letters and serial numbers to identify the employers involved in a garment’s manufacture. 

In the 1970s, the use of the union label became re-emphasized during a steep increase in imported goods on both American and Canadian markets. Advertisements encouraging the public to “look for the union label” were associated with working and manufacturing conditions that were beneficial to the worker, the economy, and the country. This small banner is a Canadian take on the ILGWU’s label campaign, displaying bilingual text, and a connection to the Canadian Labour Congress.