When delegates descended upon Las Vegas for the Third SMART General Convention in August 2024, they left with more than just memories. Tote bags, hats, and polo shirts emblazoned with the SMART logo made for popular souvenirs. Yet few attendees realized the story behind these seemingly ordinary items. Every stitch, every seam, was a testament to union brotherhood and the pride of creation. For these were no ordinary convention freebies, but goods designed, assembled, and embroidered by SMART members themselves, hailing from Local 540 in Ontario, Canada.

"I'm super proud of that, and we've been continuing to have more locals as well as our International purchasing more products," beamed Local 540 Business Manager and Financial Secretary-Treasurer Derek Evans. "It makes me feel good to know that our members made these products, and our other locals are proud to know that these products are made by our members instead of another union or nonunion."

Local 540 stands as the sole SMART local in Canada strictly representing production workers. Their diverse membership spans industries from HVAC to automotive, fire life safety, and beyond. Around a decade ago, their portfolio expanded to include garment and apparel, thanks to the initiative of Sonny Wu. The owner of Season Group, an apparel company, Wu approached Local 540 about transitioning to union signatory status. His goal: to produce union-made apparel for unions across Canada and the United States. Ultimately, he chose to partner with SMART Local 540.

That decision has blossomed into a fruitful collaboration. Though Wu has since retired, dividing his business between Season Group and Union Made Apparel under the stewardship of Vincent Hu and his son Wilson, the partnership endures. Today, Local 540 members at both shops proudly produce apparel for a vast array of union brothers and sisters, from SMART Locals 30 and 285 to the SMART Transportation Division, the Amalgamated Transit Union, and beyond.

For Wilson Wu, the importance of union-made merchandise cannot be overstated.

"A lot of goods nowadays, they're bought from somewhere overseas — but we make everything in-house," he emphasized. From sourcing locally-made cotton to dying, cutting, sewing, and decorating, their operation is truly end-to-end. The union advantage, Wu noted, has proven a boon for business. "We've gotten a lot more work ever since we've unionized; our workers are a lot happier," he said. "No regrets. It's probably the best decision we've ever made."

The Ontario garment industry workforce is a tapestry of diversity, with employees hailing from China, Japan, Vietnam, India, and throughout Asia and Europe. Local 540 has risen to the challenge of supporting this diverse membership. Contracts and workplace communications are translated into multiple languages, and the local collaborates with employers to aid members navigating immigration and citizenship.

"It has been a learning experience, but the members tend to be welcoming," Evans reflected. "The opportunities we have are going to come through diversity and inclusion of different races and cultures. The workforce is changing."

For Chris Ferreira, a longtime garment worker and Local 540 member, the difference union membership has made in his life is palpable.

"It's been great working at Union Made Apparel," he said. "There's been quite a bit more work, it's a lot more reliable. I've been in embroidery for quite a few years, and it's not too easy to get reliable orders. So yeah, it's been great, real great being part of Local 540."

As the delegates of the Third SMART General Convention don their union-made apparel, they wear not just a logo, but a badge of pride.