Repost: Union Tradeswomen Are Urged to 'Lean In' at Big Gathering

By JT Long in Sacramento

Photo Courtesy of Women Building California and the Nation

Attendees got motivation from AFL-CIO executive Liz Shuler.

A record 650 union tradeswomen attending the annual "Women Building California and the Nation" conference earlier this month were urged to take a cue from top Facebook executive Sheryl Sandburg and "lean in" to become leaders at jobsites, union halls and in their communities.

The Sacramento, Calif., conference, co-sponsored by the AFL-CIO's Building and Construction Trades Dept. and the California State Building and Construction Trades Council, brought together women electricians, ironworkers, sheet-metal workers, plumbers, bricklayers and other craft workers from across the state, the U.S. and Canada to show solidarity, network and gain insights to boost their numbers and economic clout.

Women currently make up 3% of workers in the building trades, but the popularity of craft-specific networking sessions for pre-apprentices and journeywomen indicated the pipeline was still flowing. "It's a wonderful opportunity for the newbies to chat with those who really do the work," said Debra Chaplan, state council spokeswoman and a member of Teamsters' union Local 853 in San Leandro, Calif. Chaplan credited the recovering economy in part for the record sponsorship of unions from regions that have been absent in recent years. New jobs are coming back in some places faster than in others, she notes.

The dominant message in the workshops, which encouraged attendees to "make the law work for you" and run for union and political office, was that women, including minority women who are underrepresented in the industry, need to self-nominate and get involved. "The more visible you become, the more you hear, the more changes you can make, and the more you can bring others with you," said Jane Templin, interim president of electrical workers' Local 11 in Pasadena, Calif.

Read the remainder of this article at http://ern.construction.com.

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Repost: Registration Is Open for the 3rd Annual Women Building the Nation Conference

The 3rd Annual Women Building the Nation Conference will be held on April 5-7 in Sacramento, CA. The event celebrates women who are leaders in the construction workplace, their communities and in their unions, is sponsored by the AFL-CIO’s Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD) and the State Building & Construction Trades Council of California (SBCTC) and will be held at Sacramento’s Sheraton Grand.

The goals of the conference include:

• Recruit more women into building and construction trades
• Promote retention of women in the trades
• Develop tradeswomen’s capacity for leadership and career growth, on the job and in their unions

The three day event, which also represents the 13th year of the Women Building California gathering, will begin with a Friday meet and greet that will connect women who are leaders in their unions. On Saturday, tradeswomen, union leaders, apprenticeship coordinators, contractors, and politicians will facilitate 30 different workshop sessions aimed at helping women have continued success in their careers in the trades. Topics for the workshops will include Pre-Apprentices, Staying in & Staying Strong, Promoting Leadership, and Policy and Politics.

On Sunday, attendees will join for mind-melding caucuses set up by each trade. A National Policy Forum will be held that day as well.

Registration is done based on a tiered system that will cost the attendee $75 before February 22nd, $100 before March 31st, and $125 from April 1st, until the doors open on Friday the 5th. Members of unions affiliated with the BCTD will receive a $15 discount.

More information is available at 916-443-3302, or on the SBCTC website.

Content from Chaz Bolte at wepartypatriots.com.