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Women outside an ILGWU mobile health center in Puerto Rico.

The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union establishes a health center in New York City.

1913

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Women outside an ILGWU mobile health center in Puerto Rico.

The health center provides medical services, including prescription drugs, dental care, and eye examinations to International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (IGLW) members at a low cost.

According to Hoffman (2003), the center is: "established to treat urban clothing workers, who ha[ve] a high incidence of tuberculosis and other health problems. The Union Health Center [is] different from physician- and employer-initiated clinics in that it [is] created and staffed by those... using the health care themselves. As the union members who r[u]n the center care for workers’ immediate health problems, they c[o]me to see the need for more universal provision."

The ILGWU will go on to open health centers in other locations, and also turn to advocating for universal health insurance.