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.
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