Mid to late 20th century, machine embroidery on rayon
Donation of Hank Wong

The Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) formed in 1936. It held its first Canadian meeting at the Hamilton Labour Temple in June, when eighteen Stelco employees came together to form Local 1005. By 1942, SWOC had 700,000 members in Canada and the US, and became its own autonomous union, United Steelworkers of America (USWA). 

Locals 4488 and 2771 in London, Ontario, represented workers at General Steel Wares. In October of 1927, General Steel Wares was born through the merger of six Canadian manufacturers. The Adelaide plant continued to operate after the merger that created General Steel Wares. It shut down in the 1980s, and has since been demolished. 

This banner was donated to WAHC by Hank Wong, a celebrated labour organizer for Local 4488.