The Graphic Communications International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC, is the largest and most progressive union in the printing industry in North America. The 175,000 members of the GCIU belong to over 500 local unions in the United States and Canada. The GCIU is the result of five mergers. Our roots can be found in the Amalgamated Lithographers of America, the International Printing Pressmen and Assistants Union, the Internatinal Brotherhood of Bookbinders, the International Photoengravers Union, and the Sterotypers and Electrotypers International Union.

• The history of our union can be traced back to 1882, when the Amalgamated Lithographers of America was founded.
• On Labor Day 1964 the Amalgamated Lithographers merged with the International Photoengravers Union (founded in 1900) to form the new Lithographers and Photoengravers International Union (LPIU).
• On Labor Day 1972 the LPIU merged with the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders (founded in 1892) to form the Graphic Arts International Union (GAIU).
• The International Printing Pressmen and Assistants Union (founded in 1889) merged in 1973 with the Stereotypers/Electrotypers International Union (founded in 1901) to form the International Printing and Graphic Communications Union (IPGCU).
• On July 1, 1983 the GAIU merged with the IPGCU to form the Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU).

In an era of revolutionary technological change in the printing industry -- accompanied by wholesale corporate restructuring worldwide -- the GCIU's organic merger of all crafts within the graphic arts industry provides the only effective way to marshal the solidarity needed to meet these challenges.

For more information on the union movement or how you can bring the benefits of collective bargaining to your workplace, contact us at (415) 334-7783 or by email.