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The Kheel Center ILGWU Collection

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History of the ILGWU

International Conventions

The ILGWU's international convention was the union's highest governing body. The ILGWU met annually in its early years, but with the adoption of the union's constitution and bylaws in 1924, the international convention became a triennial event. While the particulars of eligibility and the number of delegates sent from a union changed throughout the union's history, the number of members in good standing with the union always played an important role in determining representation at the international conventions. At the ILGWU's conventions, staff and officers reported on union activities, delegates proposed and voted on resolutions, and the union detailed the outlook for the industry.

The union's final convention was held in 1995, when delegates voted to accept the proposed merger of the ILGWU with the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union to create the Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees (UNITE).

Third annual ILGWU convention, 1902

Third annual ILGWU convention, group photo includes MW Schoen, James McCauley, Herman Grossman, and B. Kurland, front row. Benjamin Schlesinger, Sam Bergman, and Bernard Braff, second row. Third row, Joseph Saylem, S. Lefkovists and Sam Glassman. 1902.

Number Year Dates City Number of Delegates
1 1900 June 3 New York 11
2 1901 June 9-10 Philadelphia 16
3 1902 June 9-11 New York 38
4 1903 June 1-4 Cleveland 43
5 1904 June 6-9 Boston 30
6 1905 June 6-9 New York 23
7 1906 June 18-21 New York 20
8 1907 June 3-6 Baltimore 17
9 1908 June 1-5 Philadelphia 38
10 1910 June 6-11 Boston 64
Special 1911 October 14-15 New York 69
11 1912 June 3-12 Toronto 120
Special 1913 May 1-3 Yonkers 101
12 1914 June 1-13 Cleveland 154
13 1916 October 16-28 Philadelphia 187
14 1918 May 20 - June 1 Boston 202
15 1920 May 3-15 Chicago 253
16 1922 May 1-12 Cleveland 233
Special 1923 February Baltimore N/A
17 1924 May 5-17 Boston 300
18 1925 Nov 30 - Dec 17 Philadelphia 285
19 1928 May 7-17 Boston 204
20 1929 December 2-10 Cleveland 178
21 1932 May 2-14 Philadelphia 150
22 1934 May 28 - June 9 Chicago 369
23 1937 May 3-15 Atlantic City 517
24 1940 May 27 - June 8 New York 643
25 1944 May 29 - June 8 Boston 762
26 1947 June 16-26 Cleveland 878
27 1950 May 23 - June 1 Atlantic City 1056
28 1953 May 18-26 Chicago 975
29 1956 May 10-18 Atlantic City 1022
30 1959 May 11-19 Miami Beach 966
31 1962 May 23-31 Atlantic City 962
32 1965 May 12-20 Miami Beach 919
33 1968 May 23-30 Atlantic City 957
34 1971 May 6-14 Miami Beach 1005
35 1974 May 31 - June 7 Miami Beach 1008
36 1977 May 27 - June 4 Hollywood, FL 965
37 1980 Sept 28 - Oct 3 New York 903
38 1983 May 27 - June 3 Hollywood, FL 800
39 1986 May 30 - June 6 Hollywood, FL 689
40 1989 June 2-9 Hollywood, FL 652
41 1992 June 12-19 Miami Beach 499
42 1995 June Miami Beach N/A