Carpenters and Joiners of America, United Brotherhood of, is a labor union whose membership includes workers in wood, construction, and other industries that require carpentry or similar skills. The brotherhood, often called the UBC, has locals (branches) in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
The union was organized in Chicago in 1881, and it combined with the Amalgamated Wood Workers of America in 1912. Workers in logging and lumber camps became part of the brotherhood in 1935. Some logging and lumber workers’ locals broke away from the brotherhood in 1937 and formed the International Woodworkers of America. In 1979, the Wood, Wire, and Metal Lathers’ International Union joined the brotherhood. In 2001, the brotherhood ended its affiliation with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). The UBC disagreed with the AFL-CIO over strategy. In 2005, the brotherhood joined a new labor alliance, Change to Win, but it left that alliance in 2009.
The brotherhood holds a convention every five years. It has headquarters in Washington, D.C. For total membership, see Labor movement (table) .
