By Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. Mentoring and Mentorship that Works for Tradeswomen There are huge demands on the time of working women. Tradeswomen add the demands of overtime, apprenticeship classes, continuing education for journeyworkers, union meetings on top of this. Issues of schedule rigidity mean that it is hard for tradeswomen to get away to speak to students during the workday – your team & employer counts on each worker to be there, to accomplish the work – next to im

Download the resources below for inspiration on starting a mentorship program.

An ally listens to as many voices of those they are allying with, is engaged in constant learning, reflects on how someone’s status of race/gender/class/religion/sexual orientation (and more) confer advantage. Most importantly, an ally takes ongoing (public and collective) action to support the communities that do not benefit from conferred advantage. Advantage is not negated by one advantage versus another. Advantage is about how society accommodates you. Acknowledging advan

An Ally is someone who will support and assist you. Alliance building takes time, effort, and commitment. Various types of communication and actions can be used to develop allies. Be Active and Visible: Allies must first get to know you. Volunteer for any position (e.g. election committees, picnics, political activities, area standard events, member appreciation, banner work, voter registration, working the polls on Election Day for union candidate, etc.). Attend your Local U

The construction/Industrial Manufacturing industry is no different from any other work environment when it comes to establishing best practices for working well with others and achieving success in the workplace. Listed below are some ideas to assist you in being productive and successful. Respect is the most important rule of all. Treat people the way you want to be treated and always demonstrate good character. Keep your personal life out of the workplace. For example, no o

Our society is experiencing a learning curve in awareness and understanding of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment, while an issue in all workplaces, continues to be a significant barrier to the successful integration of women into the construction industry – occurring on worksites, in apprenticeship training, and in union settings. Skilled tradeswomen working in a male-dominated workplace face a range of issues that are distinct from those that women face in occupations wit

Despite several brief periods since the late 1970s of increased participation by women in construction apprenticeships, the percent of women working in the construction trades in the United States has been consistently stalled in the low single digits. Beginning in 2008, a collaboration of stakeholders across the construction industry in Massachusetts began meeting to address the problem of the persistent lack of access to good jobs for women in the construction trades. Origi

Good Practices for Apprentices By the time they reach their mid-forties, well over eight-in-ten women in the United States have given birth to at least one child. ( 1 ) An apprenticeship in the trades provides a pathway for a parent to earn a family-sustaining wage; apprenticeships provide earn-as-you-learn opportunities to acquire skills and an industry recognized credential without the need for college debt. Yet, being pregnant and a new mother in the trades can be particul

Beginning in 1983, Boston’s Resident Jobs Policy (BRJP) required workforce diversity targets on all public construction projects and any private construction in the city over 100,000 sq. feet. The original targets were 10% women’s work hours, 40% “minority” hours and 25% resident hours. As of January 2018, the targets have been raised to 12% women’s hours, 40% people of color’s hours and 51% resident hours and the threshold for private work was lowered to 50,000 sq. Enforceme

Success in increasing women’s access to good jobs in the union construction trades requires an integrated supply and demand strategy. Each of the components below is essential to both supply-- recruiting and training women in the skills of their trades-- and demand--getting and keeping women working in the field. Develop and communicate the business case. LABOR SHORTAGE- The construction industry is facing an aging workforce and a labor shortage. Women want and need these opp

Central Ohio Women in the Trades is participating in a collective project to improve access to child care for tradeswomen in Central Ohio. Your feedback is appreciated!

An apprenticeship within the building trades offers women and men excellent career opportunities by training them to become highly skilled construction workers ready to take on jobs that will be both personally satisfying and lucrative. ​Apprentices earn while they learn, meaning they receive on-the-job training and classroom instruction while earning a living wage. This on-the-job experience allows apprentices to learn the trade from experienced journeymen, gaining valuable

Cabinetmaker Cabinetmakers build, install and repair cabinets, shelves and fixtures in both residential and commercial buildings. Carpenter Carpenters construct and remodel almost every kind of structure, including houses, commercial buildings, bridges, churches, factories, and highways. Electrical Lineworker Electrical lineworkers construct and maintain electric transmission and distribution facilities that deliver electricity to buildings Electrician Electricians specialize