The Cloth Hat, Cap and Millinery Workers International Union (CHCMW) was a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ...

representing workers involved in making headwear in the United States and Canada. The union was founded in 1901 in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

as the United Cloth Hat and Cap Makers of North America. It affiliated to the American Federation of Labor (AFL) on 17 June 1902. From 1903, it began accepting women, with its first women's branch led by

Rose Schneiderman Rose Schneiderman (April 6, 1882 – August 11, 1972) was a Polish-born American socialist and feminist, and one of the most prominent female labor union leaders. As a member of the New York Women's Trade Union League, she drew attention to u ...

. It had an ongoing dispute with the rival United Hatters of North America over which union should organise straw hat makers and millinery workers. In 1917, the AFL decided that these workers should join the Hatters, which led the CHCMW to withdraw, and it was officially suspended from membership in 1918. In 1923, the United Hatters agreed to withdraw from representing milliners, and so the CHCMW was reinstated to the AFL in 1924, the following year adopting its final name. By 1926, it had 11,000 members. In 1934, it merged with the United Hatters of North America, to form the

United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers International Union The United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers International Union (1934–1983), also known by acronyms including UHCMW, U.H.C. & M.W.I.U. and UHC & MWIU, was a 20th-century American labor union. History In 1934, the United Hatters of North Amer ...

. The union's journal was initially named ''The Cap-Makers' Journal'', later becoming ''Cloth Hat, Cap and Millinery Workers' Journal'', and from 1917 ''The Headgear Worker''.

Presidents

:1919:

Max Zaritsky Max Zaritsky (1885–1959) was an American union leader of the United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers International Union (UHCMW) as well as co-founder of both the American Labor Party and Liberal Party of New York State. Background Ma ...

:1925: :1927:

References

{{reflist Defunct trade unions in the United States 1901 establishments in the United States 1934 disestablishments in the United States Hat makers' trade unions Trade unions established in 1901 Trade unions disestablished in 1934