BUSINESS AND TRAINING
trade. And that’s where we come in. If you’re not going to learn at work,
you’re going to learn it somewhere. That’s why we create all of these little
opportunities for them to build their craft.”
Women of 130 was founded to help women in plumbing flourish through
solidarity, support, education, mentorship, and community. The Women
of 130, comprising the three Senior Sisters and female apprentices of
Local 130, have monthly meet-ups on the last Thursday of every month,
where they participate in training sessions, ask questions of the senior
members who have years of experience, give and receive advice from
fellow apprentices who may be going through similar situations, and most
importantly, form a bond and a sense of community within their trade.
“It’s something that we felt was important and was needed,” Barillas says.
“It took us a lot of years to get to the point we’re at now and we've seen
a lot of sisters struggle. What we have now and what we’ve built, I have to
say, is fantastic. We have a lot of ladies who are growing. You can see their
strength and see how they're becoming leaders.”
Barillas points to each of the women, who are reviewing blueprints with Senior
Sister Stigler. “There’s Ingrid explaining things, she’s a fourth-year apprentice.
There’s Zakiyyah, another fourth-year apprentice, and they’re giving each other
advice. That’s what you’re supposed to be able to do. It shouldn’t be one ego
over another ego. You should be able to communicate about what’s going on
at your work and hear the different experiences. There’s Shawntel, she’s a
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
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second-year apprentice; she’s interested in everyone’s input. Everybody is able
to talk about what they think and how they feel and what they’re experiencing.”
Training also extends outside of their monthly meet-ups, including sessions at
Barillas’s home, where they get to test new skills like using a rodding machine,
installing sill cocks, or working through a water piping project. Of course, it's
not all work related. Socialising, laughing, and sharing experiences is a key
competent of forming a bond and keeping the group active.
“We have a yearly Memorial Day barbecue where we get together just to
relax, chill and hang out,” Barillas says. “We also have movie nights. We do
fun stuff like that because it doesn’t always have to be about work ... but it
is about work. We always talk about work anyways.”
Education and workshops are essential to skill development, but support,
community, and shared experiences are essential to mental health and the
retention of women in trades. According to a report published by the Health
and Safety of Women in Construction (HASWIC), a working group established
by OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety & Health (ACCSH),
based on interviews and surveys of more than 450 tradeswomen by the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and CWIT:
• 88% of respondents reported sexual harassment on the job site
• 83% experienced unwelcome sexual remarks
• 62% felt insecure about job promotions and/or advancement in
the industry
June 2019 Volume 25 I Number 4