Repost: Vermont Works for Women Report, "Enough Said"

"Women now provide almost 50% of the nation’s labor – and 36% of an average family’s income. Addressing women’s poverty isn't just a women’s issue – it’s an economic one (Vermont Works for Women)." This need – in our community and among individual women and their families – fuels the Policy Group on Tradeswomen Issues' mission to increase access for women to good-paying careers in the construction trades. The report below explores concerns young women have about their access to education, work, and careers that enable economic self-sufficiency.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Young Women Talk About School, Work, and Becoming Adults:
Why We Should Listen and What We Can Do

Many young women in Vermont describe themselves as ill-equipped and under-prepared for the challenges of school, work, career, economic independence, and adulthood—absolutes that await them in the not-too-distant future. Reflecting upon their educational experiences and job histories in nine listening sessions and in written surveys, two hundred young women, ages 15-25 from Brattleboro to St. Johnsbury, the majority from families of limited financial means, articulated a host of concerns:

• minimal exposure to a broad range of careers and professional female role models
• few personal allies to provide support
• lack of practical skills related to personal finance
• fears around how to live independently
• relational aggression among their peers
• limited expectations for work that taps into talent and passion

While Vermont should be proud of its high school graduation rate – at 91.4% the highest in the country – a number of signs indicate that we have more to do to ensure that the next generation is ready for college and/or work.

Download the summary or the full report, which examines how well we’re preparing young women, who are twice as likely to live in poverty as their male counterparts, to make informed, deliberate choices about education and work and to shoulder the financial responsibilities of adulthood.

For more information, visit vtworksforwomen.org.

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.

© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Apprenticeship Applications Being Accepted, Insulators Local 6 Boston

APPRENTICESHIP APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED

Notice of Non-Discriminatory Policy as to Applicants

PROGRAM: Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Joint Apprenticeship, Sponsor #20000

AFFILIATION: Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Union, Local 6 - Insulation Contractors Association of New England

TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION: Mass., Maine, New Hampshire & Rhode Island

TERM OF APPRENTICESHIP: Four (4) years. 150 classroom hours and 1600 job site hours per year.

TRAINING: Related. Learn the types and methods of insulating the various services (hot and cold) that are installed in industrial and commercial installations, power plants, hospitals, pharmaceutical and bio tech facilities. Training will consist of classroom and workshop procedures in the proper use of tools, equipment and application as well as reading construction drawings.

WORK PROCESSES: Assisting journeyman on the job in performing all of the above functions.

MANDATORY ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Valid, Current Driver’s License and Vehicle

AGE: 18 Years or older by September 1, 2013.

TESTS: General Aptitude Test and Interview; Mandatory Physical and Drug Test.

EDUCATION: High School Diploma or GED required.

RESIDENCY: Territorial jurisdiction of Local Union

APPLICATION FEE: $25.00 Non-refundable fee.

APPLY: In person – During the month of April, 2013 – On Mondays and Wednesdays (Except Mon. 4/15/13) between 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., at 303 Freeport St., Dorchester, MA. Driver’s license, diploma and application fee must be produced at that time. No exceptions.

TELEPHONE: 617-436-4666

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: Equal Opportunity is provided to all regardless of race, color, creed, sex, national origin or sexual orientation.

Visit http://insulatorslocal6.com/ for more information.