The Retail Wholesale Union is an Industrial Union. This means that every worker engaged by a common employer may participate in the collective bargaining process with that employer for the betterment of all.

Historically, in April 1947 the Industrial Union of Sugar Workers, a chartered local of the CLC, was aligned and chartered as Local 517 of the United Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Workers of America, CIO. The Sugar Workers formed the nucleus of this International Organization in B.C.

In 1950, Local 580 was chartered and has grown over the last fifty years to hold the majority of the Union's membership.
Retail Wholesale Union as a Canadian Union

In 1981 the membership of the three active Locals of the Union (Locals 580, 517, and 470) finalized their disaffiliation from the International Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union and formed the Retail Wholesale Union in B.C.

The Canadian Area of the ILWU has given support and understanding of our concerns while providing the means for our affiliation to the B.C. Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress.

Also, read more About Us for additional information.