Trades Women Resources

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

Taking minutes is a key role at any meeting. But this function is often taken for granted. Since meeting minutes can play a key legal function, it is important to take them correctly. Before the Meeting Plan to keep minutes at any meeting where people vote. However, at committee meetings where there is no voting, you might still choose to keep minutes for your records. Plan to have a notebook and pencil or laptop with you. Review the minutes from the last meeting. They will b

Use the GOALS Approach to Prepare Your Agenda G = Goals : Goals are the results that you want from your meeting. They are the deliverables from people in the meeting and the reason you called the meeting. Write out your goals for the meeting. They should be so clear and complete that someone else could run the meeting based on what you wrote. O = Outcomes : Outcomes state the benefits of achieving the goal, indicating why you called the meeting. Outcomes are useful because th

Sisters who use their valuable time to attend committee meetings want to “take away” something useful. One way to provide a useful “take away” is to invite a guest speaker. Below are some Topics where guest speakers might be appropriate as well as some other information to consider. A. Topics for Guest Speakers Success through your Apprenticeship Diversity and Inclusion Harassment Free Workplace Shop Steward Training Ergonomics and Personal Fitness Health and Safety on the Jo

Sometimes it helps to do something different at meetings. Why? Because people can become bored at hearing the same thing, presented in the same way, delivered by the same people, and individuals have their own interests. Variety makes things exciting, consider these ideas: A. Change Something Look at everything about the format you use to conduct meetings. Start this process by asking the following questions: Who opens your meetings? Who closes your meetings? What topics do y

General Meeting Local___________________ Date _________________________________ I. Call to Order II. Roll Call Ill. Recognition of New Members/Special Guests IV. Approval of Last Meeting's Minutes V. Chairperson's Report a. Monthly status b. Update on volunteer activities c. Update on member assistance (e.g., sick, retiree) VI. Treasurer's Report a. Budget overview b. Record of receipts (e.g ., refreshments, cards, etc.) VII. Unfinished Business a. Status of (e.g., L

Utilizing Volunteer Efforts to Accomplish Tasks In order for a Sisters in the Brotherhood (SIB) Committee to be effective, it must incorporate the volunteer efforts of many members. To effectively utilize volunteers to accomplish tasks your committee might want to develop an action plan that includes Delegating, Prioritizing, Following Up, and if necessary, Making Changes to the plan. Delegating It may be best to have One Sister take the lead on a task. This may be the Sister

The following Agenda items are followed by the typical language used by the person running the meeting. Agenda: Call to Order “I call this meeting to order” Agenda: Roll Call “Will the secretary please do roll call?” “We have a quorum. Will the secretary please read the minutes of the last meeting” Reading & Approval of Minutes “Are there any corrections to the minutes?” “If there are no corrections, the minutes stand approved”. Reports/Communications “We’ll now move to the o

Download this sample sign-in sheet for your meeting. Adapted from www.carpenters.org/regional-committee-resources

Things To Do Before, During, and After the Meeting Meetings can involve several steps, so it is easy to overlook some things. This Checklist is a useful way to make sure you have covered everything: ____ Notify members of meeting ____ Invite guests to the meeting ____ Arrange for speaker ____ Advertise/publicize the meeting ____ Prepare agenda ____ Reserve meeting room ____ Order refreshments ____ Identify key members you need at the meeting (someone to take minutes, etc.) __

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