Repost: A few strong women - Buildings Trades Union wants more female workers

More great press for Building Pathways New Hampshire! Here's a preview of the article in the April 17th issue of The Hippo:

"Nationally, women only make up about 2 percent of building industries workers, but if you ask the organizers of the New Hampshire Building Pathways program, a new initiative aimed at recruiting and training women for careers in construction, women do just as well as men. 

'The truth is, women have been doing heavy physical labor since the dawn of time. There’s nothing inherent about us that says we can’t do this,' said Liz Skidmore, Building Pathways organizer and veteran construction worker. 'As girls, we don’t get told this is an option, or this is possible.' 

The New Hampshire Building Trades Unions is piloting Building Pathways, which will give 13 unemployed and underemployed women the opportunity to participate in a pre-apprenticeship program." (Fishow, 17 April 2014)

Visit http://www.hippopress.com/ to read the full article.

Repost: Women Finding a Second Chance in Energy Efficiency

Congratulations to Oregon Tradeswomen for the recent coverage of their continued great work. Here's a quote from the op-ed on Next City's website, describing their successful apprenticeship program:

"Dobhran moved to Portland, Oregon, where she and her son shared a small bedroom in a friend’s apartment. She relied on public assistance while she scoured the city for work.

...

Then she heard about an apprenticeship program offered by Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. The organization uses grants to provide 6-8 week training courses for women who want to work in industries like green building and energy efficiency." (Johnson Avery, 24 April 2014)

Visit http://nextcity.org/ to read the full article.

Repost: New law requires MassDOT construction pre-apprentice program

A recent article in The Boston Globe describes a new bill that requires MassDOT to utilize a pre-apprenticeship program for training construction workers:

"State legislators are hoping that a pre-apprenticeship program required by a transportation bond bill will give women and minorities more access to state construction jobs. 

The provision in the bill mandates that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation train at least 300 young adults, women, minorities, or people from low-income families annually in a program that would last at least five years." (Powers, 25 April 2014)

Visit http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro to read the article. 

Chicago Women in Trades online manual for bringing more women into the trades (2004)

Chicago Women in Trades created this online manual for bringing more women into construction. Their website states:

"The goal of this on-line manual is promote replication of strategies that increase the number of women joining the construction workforce. The site, therefore, contains comprehensive information and material from which organizations can build an entire training program, augment an existing program or simply improve their ability to promote construction careers to women. Under each section, organizations can find overviews of the activities as well as downloadable tools that include implementation guides for staff, lesson plans for instructors, hand-outs for participants and administrative tools such as job descriptions and evaluation forms. 

The highlights of this guide include a customizable “Jill of All Trades”flyer, “You Can Do It, A Woman’s Guide to Building a Construction Career”, a career education video which you can download or view on site, a student aptitude assessment, and a comprehensive training curriculum, all developed with support from the U.S. Department of Labors’ High Growth Job Training Program."

Visit http://www.chicagowomenintrades.org/top/top_home.html to view the manual or learn more.

Repost: Cory Booker, Tim Scott team up for the first time

Great article in The Washington Post about bi-partisan support for registered apprenticeship programs! Here's a preview:

"On Wednesday Booker and Scott teamed up to unveil their first significant piece of legislation designed to help create hundreds of thousands of paid apprenticeships in highly skilled trades, including construction, manufacturing, health care, energy and telecommunications. The hope is that the program will help create jobs for younger Americans, especially minorities struggling to find work. 

Booker and Scott’s LEAP Act (Leveraging and Energizing America’s Apprenticeship Programs) would provide tax credits to employers who offer apprenticeships to younger job applicants. Companies that offer apprenticeships to people under age 25 would receive a $1,500 tax credit and a $1,000 credit for apprentices above age 25."

Check out the whole article, written by Ed O'Keefe, at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/09/cory-booker-tim-scott-team-up-for-the-first-time/.

Repost: Builders aim to double skilled female workers

Contractors in Japan are recruiting tradeswomen to meet the industry's labor demands.

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The Japan Federation of Construction Contractors wants to double the number of skilled female construction workers to some 180,000 within the next five years to help ease the industry’s labor shortage.

Construction demand is expected to continue growing on the back of the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2020 as well as reconstruction projects following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

It is the first time for the federation to set a numerical target for female workers, according to its officials.

“I hope more and more young people and women will enter the industry to help it remain attractive,” Mitsuyoshi Nakamura, chairman of the federation, said in February.

The federation will call on member contractors to take steps to improve the work environment for women, such as introducing staggered hours and women-only toilets.

It also wants them to form “Nadeshiko” teams of female supervisors and workers at construction sites, named after the Nadeshiko Japan national women’s soccer team.

Subcontractors will also be urged to improve the environment for female workers.

According to data from the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, there were 3.37 million skilled construction workers in 2012. Of them, women accounted for only some 90,000, or 2.7 percent.

THE JAPAN TIMES LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Visit http://www.japantimes.co.jp to view the original article.

Repost: DOL Settles Sex Harassment Case in Puerto Rico

News Release

U.S. Department of Labor            For Immediate Release                    April 1, 2014

Office of Public Affairs               Contact: Ted Fitzgerald                   Andre J. Bowser

Boston, Mass.                             Phone: 617-565-2075                      617-565-2074

Release Number: 14-363-NEW    Email: fitzgerald.edmund@dol.gov   bowser.andre.j@dol.gov

Puerto Rico construction contractor settles sexual harassment and discrimination case with US Department of Labor

Constructora Santiago to pay $40,000 to three female victims

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Constructora Santiago II Corp., a federal construction contractor in San Juan, will make a lump sum payment of $40,000 to three female carpenters who were sexually harassed, retaliated against and denied regular and overtime work hours comparable to those of their male counterparts. The settlement follows an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

“No person — male or female — should have to put up with the degrading and inappropriate treatment these women faced just to get a paycheck,” said OFCCP Director Patricia A. Shiu. “There’s no excuse for that kind of behavior, and it’s particularly egregious when the discrimination takes place at work sites funded by taxpayers.”

OFCCP investigators reviewed Constructora Santiago’s employment practices and determined that the company violated Executive Order 11246 by discriminating against women in compensation and by permitting sexual harassment and retaliation against employees who complained about a hostile work environment.

Additionally, OFCCP found that Constructora Santiago did not provide adequate restroom facilities for female employees. At times, the contractor provided no restrooms for women, and female employees were forced to relieve themselves outdoors, even in the presence of male colleagues. When a restroom was available, it was not separate from the men’s restroom and was not clean. Investigators also found that female workers were subjected to unwelcome, sexually charged comments, teasing, jokes and pressure to go out on dates. The conciliation agreement entered into by Constructora Santiago and OFCCP resolves these and numerous other legal violations at the company’s construction work sites across Puerto Rico.

Under the terms of the conciliation agreement, the construction company will pay $40,000 to the three female carpenters, provide adequate toilet and changing facilities for them and develop anti-harassment policies. Constructora Santiago has also agreed to undertake extensive self-monitoring measures and training to ensure that its employment practices fully comply with Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

Constructora Santiago has built more than $900 million worth of highways and bridges in Puerto Rico, as well as commercial and industrial structures. In January 2012, when OFCCP’s review began, the company held a federally assisted contract worth more than $10 million with the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority.

In addition to Executive Order 11246, OFCCP enforces Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. These three laws require those who do business with the federal government, both contractors and subcontractors, must follow the fair and reasonable standard that they not discriminate in employment on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. For more information, visit http://www.dol.gov/ofccp.

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EN ESPAÑOL

Contratista de la construcción de Puerto Rico sella una disputa sobre un caso de acoso y discriminación con el Departamento de Trabajo de los EE. UU.

Constructora Santiago paga $40.000 a tres víctimas femeninas

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – La Constructora Santiago II Corp., un contratista de la construcción a nivel federal de San Juan, pagará un total de $40.000 a tres carpinteras que fueron acosadas sexualmente, sufrieron represalias y a quienes se les negó un horario laboral regular y horas extra a diferencia de sus compañeros masculinos. El acuerdo llegó después de una investigación por parte de la Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) [Oficina de Programas de Cumplimiento del Contratos Federales] del Departamento de Trabajo de los EE. UU.

“Ninguna persona, hombre o mujer, debería tolerar el tratamiento denigrante e inadecuado que estas mujeres enfrentaron para obtener un cheque de pago”, dijo Patricia A. Shiu, Directora del OFCCP. “No existe excusa alguna para este tipo de comportamiento, y cuando la discriminación ocurre en lugares de trabajo financiados por los contribuyentes es particularmente atroz”.

Los investigadores de la OFCCP revisaron las prácticas de empleo de Constructora Santiago y determinaron que la empresa violaba el Decreto Ejecutivo 11246 discriminando contra las mujeres en materia de compensación laboral, y permitiendo el acoso sexual y las represalias contra las empleadas que protestaban acerca de un entorno de trabajo hostil.

Además, la OFCCP encontró que Constructora Santiago no proveía instalaciones de descanso y baños para las trabajadoras empleadas. A veces, el contratista no proporcionaba instalaciones de baños para mujeres, y las empleadas eran obligadas a hacer sus necesidades fuera de las instalaciones, inclusive ante la presencia de sus colegas masculinos. Cuando existía un baño disponible, éste no estaba separado de los baños de los hombres y no estaba limpio. Los investigadores también hallaron que las trabajadoras eran víctimas de comentarios indeseables, sexualmente implícitos, bromas, burlas y presión para aceptar citas. El acuerdo de conciliación realizado entre Constructora Santiago y la OFCCP resuelve estas y otras numerosas violaciones a la ley en los lugares de trabajo de construcción de la empresa en todo Puerto Rico.

Según los términos del acuerdo de conciliación, la empresa constructora pagará $40.000 a estas tres carpinteras, proveerá baños adecuados y vestuarios para las mismas, y desarrollará políticas contra el acoso. Constructora Santiago además ha acordado asumir medidas de monitoreo interno y entrenamiento extensivas para asegurarse de que todas las prácticas de empleo cumplan por completo con la Orden Ejecutiva 11246, que prohíbe a los contratistas y sub-contratistas discriminar en el empleo con base en la raza, color, religión, sexo u origen nacional.

Constructora Santiago ha construido más de $900 millones de carreteras y puentes en Puerto Rico, al igual que estructuras comerciales e industriales. En enero de 2012, cuando comenzó la revisión de la OFCCP, la empresa tenía un contrato con asistencia federal por un valor de $10 millones con la Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority [Autoridad de Carreteras y Transportación de Puerto Rico].

Aparte de la Orden Ejecutiva 11246, la OFCCP aplica la  Sección 503 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973 y la Ley de Asistencia para el Reajuste de los Veteranos de la Era de Vietnam de 1974. Estas tres leyes requieren de aquellos que realizan negocios con el gobierno federal, tanto contratistas como subcontratistas, cumplan con un estándar justo y razonable, que no discrimine en el empleo sobre la base de sexo, raza, color, religión, origen nacional, discapacidad o estado de veterano protegido. Por más información, visite http://www.dol.gov/ofccp.

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The department’s Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests, please contact the department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal relay).

Repost: A woman working a "man's job" - Mrs. Maombi, bricklayer

Mrs Maombi with her trowel.
© Photo: Thierry Kayandi/RNW
http://www.rnw.nl/africa

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, few people are surprised when a woman drops her apron for a job to help support her household. But many were surprised when Maombi Aristide chose to become a bricklayer.

Published on : 24 March 2014 - 2:11pm | By RNW Africa Desk (Photo: Thierry Kayandi/RNW)

By Thierry Kayandi, Goma

Aristide, 34, is a mother of six who realized that her family could no longer manage on her husband’s salary alone. Working for the Congolese National Police, he did not earn enough to pay for their children’s education.

DRC’s persisting socio-economic crisis has forced many Congolese women to seek an incoming-generating activity to help make ends meet at home. Maombi is certainly not a unique case. But her choice of job was. Bricklaying is still seen as an exclusively male trade in such a traditional and conservative society like DRC.

From vending to bricklaying

Before entering the construction industry, Maombi sold snacks on the streets of Goma. She made around three dollars a day, with one dollar being spent on the 15-kilometre trip to and from her home in Ndosho. This meagre income was barely enough to put food on the table.

But Maombi found inspiration for her future job in the Rwandan city of Gisenyi, near Goma, after crossing the border to look up an old neighbour. She found her working on a construction site where all the bricklayers were women. With no man to guide or supervise them, the women’s determination and independence made a deep impression on Maombi.

“These Rwandan women inspired me, especially their dynamism," she recalls. "That same evening when I returned home I told my husband about it and decided to change my activities.”

Maombi first worked for a few months as an intern assistant bricklayer for the renovation of the school she attended as a child. Once completed, the school began offering a new course encouraging women and girls to take up careers in construction. Maombi jumped at the opportunity and, through her teachers, she found her next job on a construction site. 

A better income, a better life

Maombi’s living conditions have improved considerably with the six to eight dollars she now earns per day. She has no reason to miss her hawking days. Thanks to her financial contribution, her family can now afford both education and healthcare.

Her husband is proud of her. Maombi now also has more time for her children since she works closer to home and no longer has to undertake long and costly bus commutes.

“My husband didn’t like it when I was selling on the streets because I would often come home late at night, when the younger children were already asleep,” she explains.

Her eldest daughter is now 14 and wants to follow in her mother’s footsteps by taking construction courses at the school. She is only waiting for her father’s approval. How could he possibly say no?

Visit http://www.rnw.nl/ to view this article's source.