Pocketbook Workers Local 1 was organized in 1886 and the national union of which it was part had its antecedents in the upsurge of organization among Jewish needle trade workers in the decade following 1910. A 1916 general strike of leather goods workers resulted in the first signed contract with the New York Leather Goods Manufacturers Association in August 1918. Originally affiliated with the United Hebrew Trades, the local obtained a charter from the AFL as Federal Labor Union no. 17873 in 1926 and in 1937 as the International Ladies' Handbag, Pocketbook and Novelty Workers Union. A workforce of Jewish and Italian artisans working for such manufacturers as Coach Leather, as well as smaller novelty shops, has seen the introduction of Puerto Rican and African-American artisans. Many New York City shops have closed in recent decades. In 1992, Local 1 merged with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 342-50.