Women in Trades
CAREER FAIR
More than 2,000 women and teenagers were introduced to careers in “non-tra-
ditional” trades such as construction worker, lineman, and firefighter at the 22nd
annual Women in Trades Career Fair held May 8-10 in Northeast Portland. Ore-
gon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI) produces the interactive, three-day fair to increase
the number of women working in the trades, and to help fill the gap in the labor
force that will be created with record-levels of upcoming retirements of skilled
trades people. OTI said that women make up about 7 percent of those employed
in non-traditional trades in Oregon — which is double the national average. Sev-
enty exhibitors had booths at this year’s fair, including employers, government
agencies, apprenticeship programs, and community and technical colleges.
Cristi Sawtell of IBEW Local 125 talks about her job as a journey-level lineman at Bonneville Power Administration
at the 22nd annual Women in Trades Fair. Joining her on stage to talk about their respective crafts are to her left:
Angela Couture of Iron Workers Local 29 and Carrie Bowers of IBEW Local 48. In the photo above left, Sawtell
demonstrates how to safely climb a utility pole.
Allison Craig, a fifth-term
apprentice and member of
Plumbers and Fitters Local 290,
demonstrates the basics of welding
at the Career Fair. Participants got
to strike an arc and weld their
initials on a steel plate. Craig, 47,
said she first learned about
opportunities for women in the
trades when she attended the fair
several years ago. “It changed my
life,” said the single mom. “I’m
learning a trade and I’m getting
paid while I do it. I just put an offer
in on my first house.”
The Women in Trades
Fair offered a special
workshop for “Fathers
and Daughters.” In the
photo left, Connie
Ashbrook, director of
Oregon Tradeswomen
Inc, sponsor of the fair,
talks about the many
training programs that
are open to women.
(ABOVE LEFT) Erin Scott (pointing), a member of Painters and Drywall Finishers Local 10, helps a young woman operate a “virtual paint” machine
that is used to teach apprentices at the training center. Scott, who previously worked with her husband as a carpet installer, is a 90 percent apprentice.
(PHOTO CENTER) Sarah Lapp of Roofers Local 49 explains a single-ply roofing system (TPO) to two participants at the Career Fair, held May 10 in
Portland. Lapp, a third-year apprentice, said the state-of-the-art TPO roofing system is energy efficient and better for the environment. (PHOTO
RIGHT) A popular booth at the fair lets participants operate a jack-hammer. Helping out is Laborers Apprenticeship Coordinator Aida Aranda (left).
Aranda is a member of Laborers Local 296. She has volunteered to help at the fair for the last five years, and says she loves it.
PAGE 12
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
MAY 16, 2014