Operating Engineer - Summer 2014

Women in the Trades
Union Tradeswomen Conference Focuses on Career Support
NEARLY 900 WOMEN, representing all of the skilled
trades in construction, attended the 2014 “Women Building
California and the Nation” conference April 25-27 in
Sacramento, CA.
The final attendance numbers represented an increase
of almost 50% from the 2013 conference, a reflection of the
growing numbers of women who are choosing a career path
as a skilled craft construction professional.
This year’s conference contained an international flair,
as 22 attendees were from Canada and seven hailed from
Australia.
The conference was sponsored by the State Building
and Construction Trades Council of California and
North America’s Building Trades Unions and its Standing
Committee on Women in the Trades.
The central idea behind the entire “Women in the
Trades” movement is to not only engage in the recruitment
of more women into the skilled trades, but to provide the
necessary support and preparation for those women who do
choose such a career path. This support network is proving
successful in preparing women to work in the trades, gaining
access to jobs and career tracks that will help them and their
families achieve greater economic security, and to groom
and support a new generation of female leaders within and
throughout North America’s Building Trades Unions.
The 2014 Conference participants heard from a variety
of speakers, including Lt. Col. Cherrie Davis of the United
States Army who gave a motivational speech about rising in
the ranks of a male-dominated industry.
Gina Walsh, an Insulator by trade and the President of the
Missouri State Building and Construction Trades Council
and a member of the Missouri State Senator treated the
conference to a great story about the rewards that come
with stepping up, being accountable and becoming more
involved.
Kristi Tuemmler, a rank and file member of Operating
Engineers Local 3, was a featured speaker and shared her
own compelling story about how and why she chose a career
path in the trades.
On a more somber note, a Worker’s Memorial Day
commemoration was included as part of the program, and it
detailed the stories of 7 women who perished while working in
the construction industry.
A touching moment
occurred when the
lights were dimmed and
conference participants
held their cell phone lights
aloft as a gesture of honor
and remembrance.
Aside from the plenary
sessions were a wide array
of workshops. The most
well-attended workshops
included:
Tools of the Trades
- An opportunity for
pre-apprentices to meet
women from different
crafts in order to learn
more about what they do.
Career Ladders Beyond
the Tools - Guidance for
women who are interested
in moving beyond the tools
and into careers such as
Inspector, Safety Manager,
Compliance officer, or
Apprenticeship Coordinator.
Higher Education Options for Women in the Trades -
Exploring the opportunities available for women in the
trades to secure college degrees.
Unions 101 - understanding the history of the American
building trades union movement and the important role that
it plays in the industry and in society at large.
Leadership 101 - What women need to know if they are
thinking about “taking the reins” of leadership
Mentoring the Next Generation - Each one teach one.
Solving Conflicts on the Job - Tips and techniques to
navigate through a male-dominated industry
[left] Local 3 was well represented at the 2014 Women Building
California and the Nation Conference.
[photo] Jan Jenson
[above] Kristi Tuemmler, a rank and file member of Local 3, was a
featured speaker and shared her own compelling story about how
and why she chose a career path in the trades.
[photo] Vicky Hamlin
[right] Local 501 union sisters show off their IUOE pride.
[photo] Vicky Hamlin
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INTERNATIONAL OPERATING ENGINEER
SUMMER 2014 9