Still no date for proposed HVCA / ECA merger

The long-awaited merger of the HVCA and ECA is still no nearer a conclusion - a year after the two trade bodies announced plans for a coming together, or as they have described it, a 'convergence'.

HVCA chief executive Robert Higgs said the trade bodies were still working on the convergence programme, but that it was important that the details of the new body were right.

"I would be disappointed if we were not in a position to go to the membership before the end of the year," he said.

"There is 100 years of industry here and obviously contractors on both sides are nervous about abandoning that," said immediate past president John Millar.

Higgs denied there was any truth in a rumour that ECA members had voted 'no' to the proposed merger. "It is true that a lower percentage of ECA members were in favour of continuining the convergence exercise, but more than 50% were in favour," he said. "If a majority had voted against, then we would have to ask ourselves if it was wise to continue with the exercise."