National Women in Construction Week
National Women in Construction Week
March 7, 2022
This week (March 6th-12th) is National Women in Construction Week, a week to promote women as an integral part of the construction industry. In addition to raising awareness of the opportunities available in the construction industry for women, this week also allows The National Association of Women in Construction’s (“NAWIC”) thousands of members across the country to emphasize the growing role of women in the industry. NAWIC Chapters also give back to their communities during this time.
Women in Construction Week was founded by the NAWIC in 1953 to create a support network for other women working in the industry. It was also founded to build a strong organization meant to bring women together. Today, there are 120 chapters of the organization and over 4,000 members. The NAWIC seeks to highlight the importance of women’s involvement in the construction industry, as well as how construction can be an avenue for growth and success for women.
In New York City, there are nine different Local Unions and approximately 22,000 members of the New York City District Council of Carpenters (“NYCDCC”). As a Council, it represents thousands of New York City’s most skilled and dedicated Carpenters, Millwrights, Dockbuilders, Marine Divers, Core Drillers, Timbermen, Concrete Carpenters, Cabinetmakers, Floor coverers and Industrial Workers.
A new Sisters in the Brotherhood mentorship program was launched by the NYCDCC Women’s Committee last summer. For new female carpenters, it is a rare chance to learn from more experienced Union sisters as they carve out their careers, one sister being a full-time instructor here at the Carpenters training Center (“CTC”). In addition to this, it provides women with crucial mentoring opportunities so they can succeed in the construction industry – both on and off the job site. Female carpenters can find support from some our female carpenter representatives, who play active roles within the Women’s Committee. This past September, the NYCDCC went further, launching its new Inclusion and Diversity program.
A few key aspects of the program include promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, participating in active caring, and preventing sexual harassment, racism, and bias. The curriculum is incorporated in all apprenticeship onboarding programs, and taught to all NYCDCC apprentices by skilled instructors during 45-minute training sessions held every week and during annual training sessions.
The Benefit Funds helps men and women in the NYCDCC get the support they need for welfare coverage, retirement planning, life insurance, and other benefits while working for the industry and after retiring.
To learn more about National Women in Construction week, visit www.nawic.org/nawic/default.asp. To learn more about programs offered by the CTC, visit www.nyccarpenterstrainingcenter.org. To find more benefit information, visit the Benefit Funds’ site at www.nyccbf.org.
Sources:
www.nawic.org/nawic/default.asp
