May 24, 2005 — According to the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD), women are the greatest untapped resource to address the critical shortage of skilled union construction workers. Women represent less than 3% of all trade workers throughout the country, they face unique challenges that jeopardize their retention in the trades, and they've been in the trades for more than a quarter of a century, yet few are represented in leadership positions.
These are just a few reasons cited by the BCTD for forming a sixth national standing committee — the Committee of Women in the Trades. After two years in development, this group was established to increase the number of women in skilled trade careers by promoting strategies for recruitment, retention, and leadership advancement, giving voice and visibility to these issues within the BCTD, its affiliates, and industry partners.
Formally announcing the formation of this committee at the department's legislative conference in Washington last month, President Edward Sullivan expressed enthusiasm about the recent addition. “We are very pleased that our planning discussions with this group of dynamic trades women has resulted in a standing committee within our department,” he said. “There is no doubt that their energy, expertise, and innovative ideas will serve to strengthen womens' opportunities and employment in union trades. We look forward to collaborating with them to achieve progress on many critical issues now and in the future.”
Representatives from all of the building trades have been asked to serve on the committee, which is co-chaired by Joseph Maloney, secretary-treasurer of the BCTD, and Nancy Gentile of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. For more information, visit www.bctd.org/.
