Catalogue Number
NMLH.2014.20.31
Object Name
Badge
Description
The United Builders Labourers Union formed in London in 1889. In 1902 the union was called by the London Labourers Council to attend a meeting with the Navvies, Bricklayers Labourers and General Labourers Union, the Hull and District Builders' Labourers Union, the National Union of Labour, London Amalgamated Plumbers' Mates Society, United Order of General Labourers of London and the National Union of Gas Workers and General Labourers of Great Britain and Ireland to discuss an amalgamation of unions. After many months of disagreements between the unions' representatives over whether to become a builders' labourers or general labourers union and failed negotiations, he attempt at amalgamation was abandoned. In 1920 the United Builders Labourers Union tried to join the National Federation of Building Trade Operatives, but was refused unless it amalgamated with other building labourers' unions. Consequently the union entered into negotiations with the Navvies, Bricklayers Labourers and
General Labourers Union, the National Association of Builders' Labourers, and te United Order of General Labourers of Great Britain and Ireland. The Navvies' Union and the United Order withdrew their support of this amalgamation, leaving only the National Association and the United Builders unions to become a joint organisation. The amalgamation of the two remaining unions never came to fruition due bad feeling and mutual accusations between the two unions. As a result both unions decided to form new independent organisations: the National Association of Builders' Labourers became the Altogether Builders' Labourers and Constructional Workers Society; the United Builders' Labourers Union became the National Builders' Labourers and Constructional Workers' Society. In 1952 the National Builders' Labourers and Constructional Workers' Society merged with the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers.
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