ILGWU. Pacific Northwest District Council photographs

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).

Formed in 1979, the Pacific Northwest District Council included local unions that had previously been part of the San Francisco Joint Board, and Local 184 of Seattle, Washington.



Mattie Jackson, former Manager of the San Francisco Joint Board, served as the first Manager of the Pacific Northwest District Council. Upon Jackson's retirement in 1990, Katie Quan was appointed manager. Quan managed the district through the ILGWU's merger with ACTWU in 1995, and headed the new UNITE district until 1998.