Canterbury, New Zealand Success

Canterbury New Zealand is rebuilding from a massive earthquake in 2010. The government of New Zealand has made it a priority to get women into these jobs. Political will has made it happen. 2400 women working on the rebuild equal 17.8% of the workforce! See it here.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/women-quitting-the-office-to-join-canterbury-rebuild-q14037

Repost: MassGaming to establish ‘Access and Opportunity’ committee, Initiative created to support state’s commitment to ensuring workforce and vendor diversity

Last week, The Massachusetts Gaming Commission announced their plans to establish an Access and Opportunity Committee for "the primary function of monitoring diversity in the construction workforce and supplier base of the state's resort-casino licensees" (MGC Communications, 11 Dec. 2014). This motion was passed unanimously by The Commission on December 4. The Policy Group on Tradeswomen's Issues (PGTI) co-conveners Susan Moir and Elizabeth Skidmore expressed their excitement for the achievement, which was spurred in part by The Commission's collaboration with PGTI. "'After six years of hard work developing best practices for increasing the number of women in construction jobs, this is a great milestone, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Commission'" (MGC Communications, 11 Dec. 2014). With major construction planned for new casinos in Massachusetts, this motion means hundreds of jobs for tradeswomen.

To read the full news release, visit http://massgaming.com or download the PDF.

Event Recap: "Paving the Way for Women in Construction" Webinar

"Paving the Way for Women in Construction: Creating Systems and Supports that Work," an October 1, 2014 webinar hosted by the United States Department of Labor Women's Bureau, the Institute for Women's Policy Research, the National Women's Law Center, Wider Opportunities for Women, and Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. "explored ways to increase women's participation, retention, and success in the construction industry." The webinar included a discussion of two new reports, the Institute for Women's Policy Research's results from a survey of tradeswomen and the National Women's Law Center's report on challenges and pathways for women to access higher-paying jobs, as well as best practices in recruitment, training, retention, and technical assistance regarding increasing women's representation in the construction workforce.

For more information about this recent webinar, visit www.dol.gov/wb/.

Repost: Iron fist in a velvet glove, Chinese women on construction site

© 2009 - 2012 ChinaHush

ChinaHush recently published striking photos of women working in construction in China, where "woman construction workers have taken up 10.18% of the total construction site workforce" (Lee, 24 Sept. 2014). Many of these women work side-by-side with their husbands, earning wages to support their families. While these jobs often provide better wages and greater freedom than factory jobs, women workers typically make less money than their male counterparts--in the case of 32-year-old Yang Amei, 120 yuan instead of the 160 yuan per day that her husband earns (Lee, 24 Sept. 2014). In recent years, women have taken on roles that require "heavy lifting" on the construction sites--work that was previous reserved for men.

To read the full article and view the photos, visit http://www.chinahush.com/.

Repost: Manufacturing and Women

A group of federal, state, educational, community, and industry leaders recently gathered at The New Haven Connecticut Chamber of Commerce for "a roundtable discussion focused on the need for more women business owners and more women in advanced manufacturing positions" (USDOL, 4 Sept. 2014). Congratulations to Women's Bureau regional administrator Jacqueline Cooke and the other leaders on their continued efforts to recruit and retain women in non-traditional occupations.

Visit http://www.dol.gov to read the full article in the USDOL newsletter.

Repost: Govt to double women at construction sites

A "joint action plan" to increase women's participation in the construction workforce was recently adopted by a small group of public-private partners in Japan. The group of general contractors, contractors associations, and government agencies has committed to doubling the number of women in their construction industry by adding 100,000 women by 2019 (Jiji Press, 24 August 2014)!

Visit http://the-japan-news.com/ to read the article.

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: Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne talks youth jobs with St. Mary Catholic Secondary School students

Ontario Premier shares her concerns about the lack of women in the trades.

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By Paul J Rellinger

COBOURG -- Through the power of the Internet, some Cobourg high school students got the rare opportunity to speak with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Speaking to Meaford, Brampton, Ottawa, Cobourg and Toronto students during her first Google Hangout, Ms. Wynne answered questions from students about the Province’s youth jobs strategy, during the online chat on Oct. 17.

The Ontario government’s youth jobs strategy was unveiled on Oct. 16.

“The youth jobs strategy really builds on what’s been done in the past,” the premier said. “We want to help create a seamless path for our young people to find jobs.”

Ms. Wynne said the government relies on Ontario residents providing feedback on how politicians can help.

“We can’t always have conversations face-to-face like we are now,” she said. “But talk to your teachers, your guidance counsellors so they can help get the message out.”

During her online chat, the premier fielded two questions from St. Mary high school--one regarding the low number of women employed in the trades and opportunities for First Nations youth.

“It actually concerns me when I visit shops or tour job sites,” Ms. Wynne said, regarding the women in trades question. “I see a real unequal balance between men and women there. The Ontario government has a women in trades website that is geared towards helping women explore and find work in the trades.”

The premier added she would like to see trades opportunities exposed to young grades in elementary school, “before they enter high school so they have a better understanding of what type of trade they may want to pursue.”

She said the youth jobs strategy is to encourage all young people.

“Ontario has a rich and diverse workforce. We want all young people, no matter their background, to have the same opportunities,” the premier said, citing three current programs the government currently has to help First Nations youth pursue certain careers, such as law and natural resources.

To view the original article, visit http://www.mississauga.com.

For more information on the youth strategy program, visit www.ontario.ca.

Career Opportunity: Boston Resident Jobs Program (BRJP) Monitor position available

Job Title: Sr. Research Analyst (Boston Residents Jobs Program)

Job ID: 346702

Location: ASD-Boston Residents Jobs Policy



Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION (essential functions of the job):
Under the supervision of the Manager of Boston Residents Jobs Program (BRJP), monitors public and privately funded construction projects to ensure contractor compliance with relevant City of Boston policies and Federal and State regulations.

• Conducts kick-off meetings and pre-construction conferences with developers, general contractors and project managers. 
• Conducts on-site monitoring of the participation of minority, women and Boston residents. 
• Verifies reported employment data and wage data. 
• Conducts quarterly review meetings to review contractors' performance goals, and review cases of non-compliance, and statements of recommended corrective actions. 
• Prepares reports and make presentations before the Boston Employment Commission (BEC). 
• Performs related work as required. 

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Must have four (4) years of fulltime, or equivalent part-time, experience in research work including project monitoring and statistics. A bachelor's degree may be substitute for two (2) years of the required experience. Must have computer knowledge of Microsoft software; knowledge of City utilized software and hardware preferred. Excellent written and oral communication skills and willingness to travel to sites throughout the City of Boston on public transportation; writing sample; knowledge of the construction trades and related legislation; ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.

Boston Residency Required

Terms: Union/Salary Plan/Grade: SEIU/RL-18
Hours per week: 35

Please refer to the Salary Information section on the Boston Career Center site for more information on compensation. For each Salary Plan, salaries are listed by Grade and Step.

Visit the City Job Postings webpage for more information.

Repost: Program aims to diversify highway construction workforce

By Peter Wong

A state agency is seeking proposals for pre-apprenticeship services that will help encourage more women and minorities to begin careers in highway construction.

The services are the result of a partnership between the Bureau of Labor and Industries and the Oregon Department of Transportation. They are intended to inform students and young adults about potential careers as carpenters, cement masons, iron workers, laborers, operating engineers and painters.

About $200,000 will be split among two or three proposals. The amount will be drawn from $2.1 million in federal funds approved by the 2013 Legislature for pre-apprenticeship services and efforts to diversify the highway construction workforce. The two agencies will ensure that the amount is spread statewide.

Proposals are due at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Department of Administrative Services/Procurement Services office in Salem. Services are scheduled to start Jan. 1 and run for 18 months.

To view the original article, visit http://www.statesmanjournal.com.

Repost: Why the Person Building Your Next House Might Just Be a Woman

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com

Despite harassment and bias, women are fighting for jobs in skilled trade.

The world of work for women is changing. A popular new Barbie construction set -- yes, building pink mansions! -- may help girls expand their view of what occupations are open to them, and that's welcome. But tradeswomen are taking action today: President Obama will soon be hearing from women electricians, plumbers, ironworkers, and carpenters about what it takes to succeed in the world of skilled trades work.

In April over 650 tradeswomen gathered in Sacramento, California, for the “Annual Women Build California and the Nation Conference.” Iron workers and plumbers met with carpenters, electricians, and laborers. They cheered women leaders like Liz Shuler, Secretary Treasurer of the AFL-CIO; the first woman and the youngest person ever elected to that position. The women listened to Ed Hill, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who called for equal treatment on the job site and in the union hall. Cement mason Alise Martiny, business manager of the Greater Kansas City Building Trades Council, offered her story of women’s leadership. These women are “leaning in" in ways Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg might not imagine. For one weekend tradeswomen from all over the country shared their stories and learned from each other. Most return to worksites where they are the only woman. The isolation of their day-to-day work lives is in stark contrast to the gathering.

Some of these women are brand new apprentices, others are seasoned journey-level workers, the most skilled in their trade. Some have become apprenticeship directors and union officers. These are women who work alongside men to build our houses and hospitals, our bridges and roads, to connect our power lines and solar panels. They work with their hands and their heads. The jobs are demanding, rewarding, and often dangerous.

But why are there still so few tradeswomen? What can be done to make these highly skilled, good paying jobs available to more women?

Thirty-five years ago, President Jimmy Carter expanded Executive Order 11246 to prohibit sex discrimination in employment by government contractors. He established goals and timetables and outlined ways to reach out to recruit and train women for all jobs. An early goal was for women to be 6.9 percent of the workforce on federally funded construction projects.

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs was established to oversee the enforcement process within the Department of Labor. There was active outreach, training, and oversight. Women began to enter apprenticeship programs. When Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980 the enforcement effort slowed to a crawl from which it has never recovered. The OFCCP has half the staff today that it had in 1978.

Women have shown that they are interested in this work and fully capable of performing the most difficult and dangerous tasks. Many have overcome hostile supervisors and co-workers, sexual harassment, and isolation. There have been grievances, complaints, law suits, and consent decrees. Many have also found male mentors, good job training programs, and support. Their stories have been documented most recently in books like Jane LaTour’s Sisters in the Brotherhoods.

According to author and tradeswoman Susan Eisenberg, however, for the few women who get into the trades it is still not uncommon to hear stories of inadequate training, biased evaluations, unsafe assignments, and sexual assaults. Thirty-five years after the Executive Order demanded affirmative action and almost 50 years after Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibited discrimination in employment based on sex, women remain pioneers on construction sites.

Today only 2.5 percent of trades jobs are held by women. According to thelatest reports of the U.S. Department of Labor, while women are almost one-third of doctors and lawyers and over 14 percent of our armed forces, they remain barely 1.6 percent of carpenters, 1.8 percent of electricians, and 1.3 percent of operating engineers. The numbers are worse for women of color.

Read the remainder of this article at alternet.org.

Visit PGTI at UMass Boston Symposium on April 10th

The Policy Group on Tradeswomen's Issues (PGTI) is presenting its research on diversity in the construction industry at UMass Boston's Community-Engaged Partnerships Symposium on Wednesday, April 10th. Contact Susan Moir for more information or if you would like to attend the Symposium.

(Click to view or download.)

Finishing the Job: Best Practices for a Diverse Workforce in the Construction Industry

PGTI is pleased to release Finishing the Job: Best Practices for a Diverse Workforce in the Construction Industry. We look forward to improving this document through thoughtful discussion. You can leave your feedback in the comments section below. Select "Name/URL" in the drop-down menu to comment without creating a Google or Blogger account.

Download a PDF of this manual.
Download a Word document of this manual.

Job Opportunity: Suffolk Construction is hiring a Compliance Officer

Position Summary:

The Compliance Officer monitors and reports on the goals and requirements related to workforce compliance and the use of minority, woman and disabled-owned businesses on all projects in Suffolk’s Northeast Region.  In addition, the Compliance Officer provides guidance to project management teams on matters relating to such goals and requirements. The Compliance Officer also plays an active role in outreach to and establishing relationships with local, state and community agencies, groups and organizations.

Department: Legal

Reports To:  Director of Diversity & Workforce Compliance

Direct Reports: None

Location: Boston, MA

Status: Full Time/Exempt Salary

To read the full job responsibilities or apply for this position, visit Suffolk Construction's website.