The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers sent nearly 80 Boilermakers to the international Tradeswomen Build Nations conference in Minneapolis in October. Read the motivating article about the conference posted on boilermakers.org by clicking here.
Sister Alex Cullen from Lodge 191 in Victoria BC attended the conference after members of her local lodge voted in favour of her attending at regular Union meeting. Alex shared her thoughts on the experience below.
Trades Women Build Nations Conference (TWBN), Minneapolis, MN
The TWBN 2019 was an extraordinary experience, the connections and networking bonding with sisters internationally was, and is clearly essential. The support of attendance by my union for me was priceless. It was the first time in my career I felt truly championed by my brothers and I want to celebrate, it means a lot.
There were over 2700 delegates, majority being trades women themselves. What became very clear to me was that we (the collective women in non-traditional occupations) are still experiencing an overwhelming need to relentlessly prove we can work. The stories I heard from Boilermaker apprentices today, were not different from mine, starting out 13 years ago; in fact, they are ALL so similar. Women within the industry are using their strength and perseverance to push through a necessity to overcome adversity on a job by job basis. Women are fighting for the opportunity to work, be taught, and learn their craft.
By providing opportunity to attend conferences, connect and network with others you begin to show support to our unquestionably ambitious sisters. Women have the opportunity to see and feel that they are not alone, they are not ONLY’s, silo’d within their locals. They are revitalized and encouraged to bring what they learn and experience back, to share knowledge, innovate and connect with peers. Having our unions, and contractors understand there are unconscious phenomenons that compound and contribute to the prevention of women advancing in the workforce is imperative. Only then do we open space to mitigate, facilitate and support the changing faces and workplace culture that is necessary for the advancement of our workforce.
By strongly backing women in industry, we amplify their voices, we imply their value and become active participants in effecting the cultural shift that is required to meet growing workforce demands. We empower our men to be more than financial household contributors. Together we can create a place where trades women’s ambition is put to work, not used to prove they can work – forever and tirelessly. I want to see our union locals, collectives; brothers stand beside their sisters proudly, loudly saying that we together have built the strongest, healthiest, most diverse workforce in history.
By making conscious choices of inclusion and recognizing the strength of diversity, we have strong opportunity for our union to be not only industry leaders but global leaders as well.
– Alex Cullen
New IBB Film: Women at Work
The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers recently released a new Boilermaker short film called “Women at Work”. Click to watch below.