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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 7, 2010)
May 7, 2010:NWLP 5/4/10 10:12 AM Page 7 Still time to buy tickets to win motorcycle Women showcase skills at trades fair Hundreds of girls and women were introduced to high-paying careers in non-traditional skilled labor jobs at the 18th annual Women In Trades Fair April 29 through May 1 at the NECA/IBEW Electrical Training Center in northeast Portland. The event is sponsored by Oregon Tradeswomen Inc. The first two days were set up for middle and high school girls, and on May 1, doors were opened for women. Fair patrons met numerous women who are successful in their occupations as electricians, plumbers, roofers, and firefighters, as well as many other crafts. They watched demonstrations and took part in hands-on workshops. For example, in the photos above, apprentices from Roofers and Water- proofers Local 49 demonstrated the fabrication of a green roof. In the photo right, Karrie Allen helps fair goers lay down a scaled-down roof liner, while MAY 7, 2010 Nicole Ballman (left in photo left) topped it off with succulents. Fair partici- pants were able to take the mock green roofs home. Journey-level roofer Dana Brown, one of the first women to complete Lo- cal 49’s apprenticeship program 15 years ago, said the fair is way to let girls and women know they need not be afraid of the trades. “Certainly, it’s not for everyone, but for those who are built for it, it’s a career that pays well and has great benefits,” Brown said. A roofer apprentice starts at $17.57 an hour with benefits and tops out at journey-level rates of $27.03 an hour in wages, plus $8.40 in fringe benefits. Brown said two high school students who attended the fair April 29 plan to apply to enter the Roofers apprenticeship program, which opened this month. NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS There is still time to buy a ticket to win a new Harley-Davidson motorcy- cle and to donate to the Motorcycle Poker Run and Chili Cook-off Fundraiser for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Unions for Kids is a non-profit all- volunteer organization that hosts the annual event, which will be held Satur- day, June 12, starting and finishing at the IBEW Local 48 hall in Northeast Portland. Harley tickets are $10 each, and only 4,000 will be sold. Registration to enter the poker run is $10. This year, Unions for Kids is asking union members to donate an hour of their net take-home pay to the cause. Corporate and union donations of cash and prizes for a silent auction also are welcome. To be a sponsor, to donate an hour’s pay, or to buy a raffle ticket for the mo- torcycle (a 2010 Heritage Softail Clas- sic in red-hot sunglo; retail value $18,804), go online to www.unionsfor kids.org or call Lee Duncan at 503- 260-5905. PAGE 7
