Apprentice carpenter Lindsey Sakasitz, left, and appliance carpenter Laylah Mohssen are members of the Northern California Carpenters Union. [Photo courtesy Northern California Carpenters Union]
Women in the Marin City Community Development Corporation’s trades program face challenges of finding child care and, in some cases, even shelter. [Photo courtesy MCCDC]
up opportunities for them to train others and start their own companies,” says Fortino Dickson. “Much of the work that women do, like housekeeping, silos them. They may not get to move up or make much more, even after years of work.” In 2024, the Commission rewrote its mission to put a new focus on economic freedom. “Women who enjoy economic independence have the freedom to make choices, like train to acquire a new skill. We invite women who are in the trades to share stories with our commission. That will allow us to understand what we can do to help develop allies for them within the community,” says Fortino Dickson. Jessica Coulman, a Rohnert Park-based apprentice electrician with IBEW Local 551, says it is key that women who are used to working with men teach other women to be less apprehensive. “I used to race at Sonoma Raceway a lot and it’s mostly men there—that helped,” says Coulman. “I also did independent study in high school so I could have more time to play sports. I got used to being the only girl on many teams, from Little League when I was younger to basketball when I was older.” Adds Coulman: “Women can be scared of working in a majority- male workplace. Yet men can be funny and helpful.” Susan Rodriguez, field representative for the Northern California Carpenters Union, says gender bias exists. “The Carpenters Union and employers shall work collaboratively to improve recruitment, retention and viable work opportunities for women, minorities and any other protected classes,” says Rodriguez. “In 2021, the Northern California Carpenters Union ratified its collective bargaining agreement to include the inclusive language.” Bell says practices like a union’s “ready to work” list at a
hiring hall help eradicate gender-based discrimination. “The contractors who hire from that list cannot skip a worker who happens to be a woman. There were times I showed up to work and was rejected on the spot. I handled that by saying, ‘OK, I’ll see you next week.’ I’d show up again at their door. Eventually they got tired of seeing me and I got the job. Then they kept me because they saw how well I did the job,” says Bell. Views from men in the trades Locally, many men in the trades would like to see women working alongside them.
John McEntagart, business manager and financial secretary for IBEW Local 551, says in his third year of
the electrician apprenticeship
program, another apprentice, Denise Anderson, made a huge impression on him. “She was two years behind me in the apprenticeship. Her work ethic was phenomenal. After she graduated, she
Gina Fortino Dickson, chair of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women. [Photo courtesy Gina Dickson]
June 2024
NorthBaybiz 55
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