Women At Work™ participants launch the Boilermakers’ new women’s caucus.
GIVEN THE HIGH priority of supporting sisters in the union, and with an eye toward adding more women to the ranks, Boilermakers launched its new women’s caucus, tentatively called Women At Work™, at the Industrial Sector Operations conference. Nearly 40 ISO Boilermaker sisters and other women met to participate in discussions about the contributions, opportunities and obstacles impacting women in manufacturing and the building trades.
International President Newton B. Jones opened the caucus with a vision for Women At Work.
“Today, we lay the groundwork for increasing the number of women in industry,” he said. “And let me be clear, this is not a one-time event. This is the very beginning of more to come. We know there is a lot of work ahead of us—and with other trades—when it comes to recruiting, retaining and advancing women in our industries.”
Erica Stewart, IR and National Coordinator of Women in the Trades Initiatives for the M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund, led the group in a discussion of issues women in industry are currently facing.
Going forward, Stewart said that having conversations with sisters in the union and proactively crafting solutions is important for all women in the Boilermakers.
“My hope for the future of Women At Work is to listen to our sisters and help them meet the challenges they’re facing on the job,” she said. “Let’s bring more women into this wonderful union and together create a way to mentor and support them.”
