Cleveland Tradeswomen celebrate Women in Construction Week

Cleveland Tradeswomen celebrated Women in Construction Week with a dinner on March 8 at the Plumbers Local 55 Union Hall. More than 75 tradeswomen, including a few from states outside of Ohio, attended the second annual event.

On March 8, the final day of Women in Construction Week, the Cleveland Building Trades Tradeswomen Committee hosted its second annual tradeswomen dinner.

The event was held to recognize the area’s tradeswomen and show appreciation as they help the industry become more diverse.

Event organizer Emma Varner, a member of IBEW Local 38, was pleased with the turnout as more tradeswomen attended compared to the inaugural event.

Held on a Friday, over 75 tradeswomen, including some from out of state, enjoyed a free dinner by Mission BBQ at the Plumbers Local 55 Union Hall.

“The members were excited, there was a buzz in the room,” Varner said.

The 4:30 p.m. start time allowed the tradeswomen to show up directly after work for an opportunity to socialize before and after a good meal.

“We were more comfortable this year; we knew what to expect,” said IBEW Local 38 member Sara O’Neil. “It’s a nice event that gives us a chance to relax.”

For Tradeswoman Committee Chair Doreen Cannon, the event was a great way to cap off Women in Construction Week.

“This was the second annual dinner, and it was nice to see such growth from last year,” said Cannon. “There were a lot of first-year apprentices here. It’s nice to see the word is getting out.”

During the dinner, Carpenters Local 373 member Sue Foxen showed off the quilt she has been making to honor the Tradeswomen Committee.

The quilt features shirts donated by Tradeswomen from different Local Unions. Once complete, it will have a blue backing with white stars, reminiscent of the American flag.

Foxen began her career nearly 31 years ago. After taking a class called Hard Hat Women, the instructor suggested she join the Carpenters Union.

“I interviewed with a contractor who spent a full day interviewing only women,” she said. “I showed him before, during and after pictures of my 1910 house that I was rehabbing and said that if I can do this with no training, just think what I could do with training.”

Foxen got the job and became the first female member of Local 373, and over time, the Local added more female members, she said.

A former Junior Olympian, Foxen admitted she has faced a lot of adversity over the years, but she loves her job and does all she can not to miss a day of work.

Cannon also recalled the early portion of her career, when women accounted for 1.9 percent of the nation’s union construction workforce. More than 25 years later, tradeswomen account for 4 percent of the workforce.

“I think the tide is turning,” she said. “As the number of journeywomen increase, more will change. As tradeswomen get on more jobsites, the culture of those jobsites will change, and more women will take advantage of this great career opportunity.”