Author: johnparsley

2019 Rochelle Sadler, Journeyman of the Year (also first African-American female journeyman in Oregon – General Sheet Metal) http://djcoregon.com/newsmakers-2019/

Construction Unions Making Commitment to Recruit Women: https://commercialobserver.com/2019/03/construction-unions-making-commit…

Women in Construction Week Highlights Push for More Diverse Workforce: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/business/Women-in-Construction-Week-Highligh…

How these women are shaping the construction industry: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/women-in-construction-week-2018/51…

Level the Jobsite: Why the World Needs More Women in Construction: https://blog.plangrid.com/2018/03/level-the-jobsite-why-the-world-needs-…

Women in construction break down barriers in male-dominated industry: https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2016/06/post_241.html

More women choosing careers in construction: https://www.wral.com/more-women-choosing-careers-in-construction/18244165/

Women are the solution to the construction industry’s labor shortage: https://www.curbed.com/2018/11/5/18065266/construction-industry-labor-sh…

CELEBRATING WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION AT INSPECTIONAL SERVICES: https://www.boston.gov/news/celebrating-women-construction-inspectional-…

‘Times Are Changing:’ More Women Breaking Into Construction Industry: https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/02/27/women-in-construction/

Communities celebrate women who work in construction: https://wqad.com/2019/03/05/communities-celebrate-women-who-work-in-cons…

More women are entering the construction trade, but job sites and equipment haven’t adapted yet: https://www.marketplace.org/2018/03/26/economy/women-construction

3 Pro-Tips for Young Women In Construction: https://connect.bim360.autodesk.com/women-in-construction-industry

Local company seeks to promote women in construction industry: https://www.10tv.com/article/local-company-seeks-promote-women-construct…

Will Chicago’s building boom boost women in construction? https://www.chicagobusiness.com/news/will-chicagos-building-boom-boost-w…

Women in Construction: #MeToo in the Building Trades? https://iwpr.org/women-construction-metoo-building-trades/

Building Success: At Last, Women Are Carving Out Careers In Construction: https://www.kut.org/post/building-success-last-women-are-carving-out-car…

Yes They Can! Program Boosts Number of Women Construction Workers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/yes-they-can-program-boosts-number-of-women…

This is [Still] a Man’s World: Number of Women in Construction has Declined Overall Since 2006 – The Registry: https://news.theregistryps.com/this-is-still-a-mans-world-number-of-wome…

Ziven Drake, ‘Trades Woman of the Year,’ is in demand as a highly-skilled commercial diver | Dorchester Report: https://www.dotnews.com/2019/ziven-drake-trades-woman-year-has-always-ki…

Editorial: We aren’t enlightened, we’re just short of workers | The Nelson Daily: http://rosslandtelegraph.com/news/editorial-we-arent-enlightened-were-ju…

Forget the ‘why’ and focus on the ‘how’ to retain women in the trades – constructconnect.com: https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/labour/2019/03/forget-focus…

Women in Construction: Bringing Guts and Grit to a Male Dominated Industry: https://connect.bim360.autodesk.com/women-in-construction-guts-and-grit

Women encouraged to consider careers in construction https://www.knoxnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/2019/03/08/women-encou…

Washington Has the Most Women in Construction: https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2018/10/12/33787909/slog-pm-washington-…

Miron Forges the Way for a New Generation of Women in Construction: https://connect.bim360.autodesk.com/miron-women-in-construction?hsCtaTra…

Rosie Pictures: Images relating to American Women Workers during WWII: http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/126_rosi.html?fbclid=IwAR0LkJbL7ZN5EqN4…

National Center for Women’s Equity in Apprenticeship and Employment: http://womensequitycenter.org/best-practices/

http://womensequitycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Sheetmetal-Work…

Local 66 Women’s Committee Veterans Donation Drive:  https://www.smw66.org/2018/09/17/local-66-womens-committee-veterans-dona…

Tradeswomen Stories – Women of Sheet Metal Workers Local 104 (2013)
http://sbctc.org/doc.asp?id=4375

Liz Fong (MacMiller Operations Integration Manager) http://macmiller.com/women-in-construction-week-liz-fong/

Arlene Dunn named Director of Canada’s Building Trades Union: https://nabtu.org/press_releases/cbtu-blakely-dunn-announcement/

Tina Rivas, LU 66 on the show Titans: https://www.king5.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/evening/…

Building a Stronger Construction Industry: Madelyn Broadus, Sheet Metal Worker
(2012) http://colabradio.mit.edu/new-construction-madelyn-broadus-sheet-metal-w…

AFL-CIO profiling women leaders: https://aflcio.org/2019/3/7/afl-cio-profiling-labor-leaders-and-activist…

Betsy Brown (IBEW) Travelled Around: https://mollymartin.blog/category/tradeswomen/

Green Dot Program: https://alteristic.org/casestudy/oregon-tradeswomen/

The Continuing Rise of Women in Construction:
https://www.enr.com/articles/45091-viewpoint-the-continuing-rise-of-wome…

More women work in construction that’s still a man’s world  https://qconline.com/business/more-women-work-in-construction-that-s-sti…

Women in the workplace: Ottawa Lake woman pursues construction:  https://www.monroenews.com/news/20190316/women-in-workplace-ottawa-lake-…

Young women in vocational schools learn about careers in construction industry
https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/young-women-in-vocat…

More women choosing careers in construction
https://www.wral.com/more-women-choosing-careers-in-construction/18244165/

Level the Jobsite: Why the World Needs More Women in Construction: https://blog.plangrid.com/2018/03/level-the-jobsite-why-the-world-needs-…

Today, Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL-21), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), John Katko (R-NY-24), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), along with 49 cosponsors, reintroduced the Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace harassment through Education and Reporting (EMPOWER) Act. This legislation will lift the veil of secrecy surrounding workplace harassment, and bolster transparency and accountability. A companion bill will be introduced in the Senate by Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

“Time is up for workplace harassment that robs women and men of a safe work environment, causing distress and harming their financial ability to take care of their families,” said Rep. Frankel, Chair of the Democratic Women’s Working Group. “The EMPOWER Act will help end this abuse of power and create more dignified workplaces.”

“Every person deserves a safe and fair work environment, but our current laws have failed victims of harassment,” said Rep. Nadler, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. “If the women and men who have been victimized, shamed, and abandoned by our society can find the courage to stand up and tell their stories, then Congress should step up and act in their names and the names of millions more who do not have a platform to speak out. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the EMPOWER Act, long-overdue legislation that will make meaningful strides in ending workplace harassment.”

“Employees who experience harassment in the workplace should have the ability to speak up without fear of retribution from their co-workers or employers. The bipartisan EMPOWER Act restores the rights of employees to fight workplace harassment, establishing transparency and holding perpetrators accountable,” said Rep. Katko. “Under this legislation, the use of non-disclosure agreements is prohibited, companies must make workplace harassment cases public, and employers are financially responsible for the outcome of workplace abuse settlements. No worker should face harassment in the workplace and I am proud to co-sponsor this legislation.”

“Every employee across the country deserves a safe, harassment-free workplace. For too long, our society has ignored various forms of sexual harassment that women face, which perpetuates cultures of suffering and silence. Thanks to the #MeToo movement, we are coming to terms with how wide-spread this problem truly is, and we are doing something about it,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “That’s why I am proud to join my colleagues in re-introducing the EMPOWER Act. By ending the practice of the non-disclosure agreements to silence claims, by creating a confidential hotline to report incidents of sexual harassment, and by shining a light on companies who pay out millions in settlements and judgments, we can make real strides in tackling the effects of pervasive harassment in America. This bill can move us toward our shared goal of creating inclusive cultures of respect in workplaces everywhere.”

“Whether it’s Hollywood, Congress, or a corporate boardroom, there is no place for sexual abuse or harassment in the workplace. Employees should have the resources and confidence to report harassment or abuse in the workplace without fear of retribution,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “This Congress must stand with the survivors of this harassment and take swift action to root out those who would sexually harass any other person, regardless of position or title.”

This new recruitment video profiles women in the sheet metal trade.

Female sheet metal workers receive the same education and opportunities as their male counterparts.

As with most construction-related jobs, jobs in the sheet metal industry have traditionally been held by men but that’s changing as women move into this field in increasing numbers.

Over the last several decades, women have made tremendous gains in many professions. Women physicians, for instance, were a rarity in the 1960s. Today,  women are increasing their share of the workforce and advancing in a variety of professions. 

How these advances were made and what sharee of it was made due to the mentoring assistance of other women was srtudied by identifying women at West Point who worked with each other through already established peer groups.  Visit the article for more.

This article highlights the work being done to promote women in the construction industry while at the same time makes the argument for the gender diversification of the industry. Common mispeceptions are identified and challenged with a discussion about some resources women have used in the industry. You can view the article here.

In keeping with SMART’s dedication to supporting sisters in the trade, the Journal will begin running the SMART Women’s Corner. 

At a time where every trade has experienced workforce shortages, stakeholders across our industry have learned that more diversity leads to more talent, more productivity, and more market share.  Research shows that embracing diversity in construction helps employers achieve higher performance and increased profitability – with a larger pool of members to enable contractors to bid on more work and create more work opportunities for all.  Applying At the same time, many of our sisters in the trade continue to experience barriers that unfairly hinder them. 

We welcome all comments and suggestions.  Please send any story ideas or contributions to ppimentel@smart-union.org and we will look to incorporate them into future Journals.

A large delegation of over 210 SMART women joined more than 2,000 tradeswomen from around the world at the 2018 Women Build Nations Conference in Seattle October 12-14, 2018 to meet and discuss the state of women in construction, learn best practices for recruiters, and explore ways to keep the growing movement of women in the trades strong and vibrant as they continue to grow at a historic pace.

The conference was kicked off when SMART sheet metal sisters from across the United States and Canada volunteered at the Seattle Union Gospel Mission.  The shelter provides support for at risk women and children with locations throughout the Seattle area.  SMART Women’s Committee members paid for, prepared and served lunch for over 200 women and children who came to that shelter that afternoon.

The general session, which kicked off the following day, provided a diverse range of speakers who noted the progress women have been making in the trades with an eye towards the arduous work still to come.  North American Building Trades President Sean McGarvey discussed the skilled labor shortage and how women have been stepping up to not just fill positions but lead projects and crews across all the trades while the AFL-CIO’s Liz Schuler briefed attendees on the midterm elections and new developments at the AFL-CIO.

Conference participants, more importantly, came for the camaraderie and to learn from each other’s experiences – especially from those who serve as mentors to younger generations of women entering the trades.  It is in this role that SMART women stepped into to lead the way for their fellow sisters in the trades.

Vanessa Carman from Local 66 in Seattle helped lead a panel focused on the ins and outs of building a women’s committee at the Local Union level. The mentoring panel included local 66 mentors and mentees also included Local 66 members Emily Wigre, Tammy Meyen and Christina Bayaniyan.

Leah Rambo headlined and facilitated another panel where female apprentice from across the trades and around the country shared their experiences and advice for other women just joining the trades. Among the apprentices were two from from Local 17 in Boston and Local 28 in New York City who were joined by fellow sisters from the bricklayers, ironworkers and laborers.  The discussion, anchored by Rambo, was blunt and focused on real world situations. 

Chris Carlough, SMART Director of Education and Lisa Davis from SM Local 16 in Portland, Oregon lead a breakout that discussed the importance of mentoring and which covered what mentor training entailed at Local 16 in Portland as an example.  Topics ranged from communication and feedback, to setting healthy boundaries with mentees – complete with exercises and potential scenarios.  

The facilitators examined the process of implementing a mentoring program and provided a tool-kit of forms listing out goals, expectations and structure ideations that any organization looking to create a mentoring program could tailor for themselves.   There was also a moderated panel of mentees and mentors from the program established by the Women’s Committee of Local 66, who shared their experiences, expectations, rewards and benefits of participating in the program and answered questions from the crowd.  

The breakout session was received spectacularly well, with trades people and government entities from all over the country emailing for weeks afterward to share their enthusiasm and looking to brainstorm on ideas for their own mentoring programs.

While attendees shared their experiences during the conference at the interactive breakouts, attendees from every trade marched in a parade that highlighted each trade in attendance.  The SMART delegation was one of the largest if not the loudest during the parade as women from Portland to Kansas City to as far away as Boston marched through Seattle’s Pioneer Square behind their local union colors.

The conference wrapped up with caucuses held for each trade.  SMART’s trade caucus focused on receiving feedback from attendees on a proposed website and resource center; the recruitment of more women into the trade and required resources to support them; the development of mentoring resources on a state by state and provincial basis and issues faced uniquely by women on the jobsite and how to address them.

The 2019 Women Builds Nations Conference is set to be held in Minneapolis, MN October 4-6.  All locals are urged to send participants to this important event.