IBEW Sisters in Solidarity

Women are an increasing presence in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) -- and are playing a leading role in growing this union. Listen to some of the participants in this year's Women's' Conference describe what being a sister in solidarity is all about.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• IBEW
• women
• electrical workers
• construction
• labor movement
• jobs

[Lynn40213]

WOW! Great. Wish I could be IBEW.

[ksgrown]

We need to keep the brothers from hurting the sisters.. Keeping them working and being called out, trained and promoted on equal terms as the male are. Work opportunity equality is important and is not common practice in the IBEW. Check out the ways the IBEW women abused and harassed Jenna Smith in the lineworker apprenticeship in Eugene Oregon! She has told the story of many sister's mistreatment. It time to award her her Journey-level card!

[FeistyAmazon2009]

I know 3 of these women and they are strong, feisty women who have survived. Let's keep moving forward, and make our numbers larger where we can REALLY be a force to be reckoned with, like 25% of the construction/IBEW workforce, rather than 2%!  It has to be more than rhetoric, but real action in truly supporting each other, not allowing the divide and conquer mentality so many women easily fall into. We cannot allow discrimination to continue through the union, apprenticeship or on the job.

[FeistyAmazon2009]

We've been in the trades for over 30 years, and yet our numbers have not improved, and since affirmative action has been destroyed under the Bush administration and by the Republicans in California, along with the bad economy, our numbers have gone backward and we're still getting hugely discriminated against, with a glass ceiling that cannot, or is rarely broken. So, we've HAD a presence in the IBEW for YEARS, yet it's in only a few unions women are really supported.

[joanie134]

I've been a member of my union for over twenty-five years. However, the persistent sexism that I've experienced has destroyed any positive feelings that I once had for this organization.

My Local secretly sponsored individuals in the municipality where I work for promotions. No sister member has ever been promoted.

This fluff video won't erase years of abject discriminatory treatment. My Civil Rights were violated numerous times. At least the EEOC took care of what my union did not.

[viviprice]

@viviprice Now we need to make sure that this message is put into action, and sisters are really supported.

[viviprice]

Terrific video. Sisters supporting one another is very important--and that our unions support us. Thanks for making this video.