The UBC Emblem

In 1884, delegates to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters’ Fourth General Convention adopted this emblem to serve as a symbol of the union’s ideals. The emblem was originally designed by the old National Union of Carpenters which was organized in September, 1864.

More than 130 years after the founding of the UBC, some of the tools within the emblem are no longer common on jobsites. However, all of the design elements and the values they represent remain a vital part of the Brotherhood.

• The Motto: The inscribed Latin, “Labor Omnia Vincit,” means “Labor Conquers All Things.”
• The Rule: Signifies the desire of the organization to live by the Golden Rule: “To do unto others as we would wish others to do unto us.”
• The Compass: Indicates that we shall endeavor to surround our members with better conditions, socially, morally, and intellectually.
• The Jack Plane: A tool emblematic of the trade.
• The Colors: Pale blue signifies ideas as pure, clean, and lofty as the skies. The dark red denotes that “labor is honorable,” and that through honorable labor red blood flows through the veins of those who toil.
• The Shield or base of the Emblem: Indicates that those legally wearing the emblem are morally bound to safeguard and protect the interests of the organization and its members.

Similar elements and symbolism make up our union label, which is affixed to quality products made by UBC members.