ILGWU. Northeast Department records

Founded in 1900 by local union delegates representing about 2,000 members in cities in the northeastern United States, the ILGWU grew in geographical scope, membership size, political influence to become one of the most powerful forces in American organized labor by mid-century. Representing workers in the women's garment industry, the ILGWU worked to improve working and living conditions of its members through collective bargaining agreements, training programs, health care facilities, cooperative housing, educational opportunities, and other efforts. In 1995, the ILGWU merged with the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU) to form the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE).

David Gingold was born in Poland on December 10, 1896, arrived in the United States in 1912 as a teenager, and began working in the raincoat trade, joining Rainwear Local 20. He held several offices in Local 20 including a member of the executive board in 1922 and vice-chairman in 1923. In 1924, Gingold was elected manager of Local 20 and from 1925-1929 served on the ILGWU General Executive Board (GEB) and as a vice president of the union. Gingold briefly returned to shop work before becoming an organizer in 1934. After time spent organizing areas of Pennsylvania and New England, Gingold assumed the directorship of the Northeast Department in 1943, a position he held until his retirement in 1977. He was again elected a vice president and member of the ILGWU GEB in 1946. He died on December 15, 1980 at the age of 84.

The Cotton Garment and Miscellaneous Trades Department was established in 1935, and renamed the Northeast Department In 1946. At the time of its formation, the department was responsible for Pennsylvania (outside of Philadelphia), Massachusetts (outside of Boston), New York (north of Albany), Delaware, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and parts of New Jersey (Harry Crone, "35 Northeast," New York: ILGWU, 1970, 18-19.).



In the 1970s, the ILGWU underwent major reorganization, resulting in changes in the Northeast Department's jurisdiction and name. With the formation of the New England Region in 1975, the Northeast Department no longer had jurisdiction in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont. In 1976, responsibility for upstate New York was shifted to the newly-established New York State District. In 1977, the Eastern Pennsylvania Region organized and serviced members in the former Northeast Department areas of New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania (Easton, Allentown, and Philadelphia). In 1979, the New Jersey Region took over the parts of New Jersey previously covered by the Northeast Department.



The Northeast Department was reorganized to be the Northeast, Western Pennsylvania and Ohio Department in 1978.

Vice President Elias Reisberg, General Manager of the Philadelphia Joint Board, served as director from 1935 until his death in 1943. David Gingold succeeded Reisberg, serving as director until his retirement in 1977. Sol Hoffman served as director of this ILGWU's Northeast, Western Pennsylvania and Ohio Department from 1977 until 1995.