Carpenters settle on union name

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 40

Carpenters settle on union name

PA Wellington A long-drawn battle over a proper name for the Carpenters’ Union is over. The union is now officially known as the Building Trades Union. The long saga over the union’s attempt to change its name has finally ended with the Labour Court ordering the Registrar of Unions to register New Zealand Building Trades Union as the official name. The debate has been simmering since 1987 when the union opted for the title, Building Workers’ Union. That upset their Labourers’ Union colleagues who pointed out their members were also building workers and carpenters should not have

the all-exclusive title. Last year Judge Williamson sided with the labourers and came up with a compromise solution, the Building Tradespersons' Union. The carpenters decided to shorten his suggestion to Building Trades Union. The labourers had no objection. But four other unions did and the case was back in the Labour Court. In a written decision. Judge Castle said he agreed with Judge Williamson that if a union opted for a descriptive name, it should be as substantially accurate as possible. The title Building Trades Union was accurate, and it was brief, an important element.