Tradeswomen United

From left, BAC members Leilani Omegna and Angela Henderson of Local 1 WA and Andrea Atteberry of Local 3 CA at the State Building & Construction Trades Council of California’s annual conference for tradeswomen in May. Laurie Harris and Tai Seals of Local 3 CA, and Brenda Cartino and Kristy Dreyer of Local 1 OR, attended but are not pictured.

Every spring since 2002, hundreds of women gather together to network, exchange strategies for success, and demonstrate their support for women in construction at the Women Building California Conference, sponsored by the State Building & Construction Trades Council of California. As word of the resources and solidarity that characterize this annual event reaches more tradeswomen across California and neighboring states, attendance has risen steadily, setting a new record in 2007.

The conference’s solid track record of providing a venue for apprentice and journey-level tradeswomen to develop leadership skills, attend educational workshops, and meet others from their craft convinced the national BCTD’s Standing Committee on Women in the Trades that it was an excellent model for a future national tradeswomen’s conference. With an eye toward that objective, earlier this year the Committee appealed to international building trades presidents to work actively with their local unions to ensure the participation of women members. BAC President John J. Flynn responded. After conferring with Locals on the West Coast, seven BAC members from three Locals were named to attend the Sixth Annual Conference in Los Angeles: Laurie Harris, Andrea Atteberry, and Tai Seals of Local 3 California; Brenda Cartino and Kristy Dreyer of Local 1 Oregon; and Angela Henderson and Leilani Omegna of Local 1 Washington.

Over the two-day conference, BAC members and union sisters attended workshops on mentoring programs, organizing a local union women’s committee, the construction career ladder, leadership skills, successful recruitment tools for women, and the basics of applying for apprenticeship. Guest speakers included State Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero and Assembly Majority Leader Karen Bass. Both women expressed admiration and respect for the tradeswomen present, who, despite choosing non-traditional employment paths, were not only succeeding, but remain committed to paving the way for others.