1995-2004, synthetic fabric
Donation of the UNITE Ontario Council

UNITE, formerly the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, was formed in 1995 through the merger of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU) and the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU). UNITE can be linked to predecessor unions the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA), and the Textile Workers Union of America (TWUA). These unions fought sweatshop conditions, and established middle-class jobs for factory workers. They also made gains for immigrants’ and women’s rights in the workplace. 

UNITE merged with the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE) in 2004 to form UNITE HERE. UNITE HERE Local 40 represents service industry workers in Southern Ontario, in workplaces such as hotels, restaurants, casinos and racetracks. 

This flag represents a shift in the 21st century towards the mass-production of union “swag” to be worn and used by many individuals, instead of the production of a single, ceremonial banner.