Maine IBEW Women Form Sisterhood Within the Brotherhood
From left to right: Jasmine Thompson & Kim Tobias (IBEW 1253) & Jenna Schaab, Riley Migneault, Shantelle Jackson, Jamie Siraco, Meghan Murphy, Máire Lenihan (IBEW 567).
In late September, a group of IBEW 1253 and 567 members met each other at the airport before heading off to the 2024 IBEW Women's Conference in New Orleans. They didn’t all know each other very well and they all came from different backgrounds. But what they shared in common was the experience of being women in a predominantly male dominated field.
Women were effectively banned from entering the trades until the 1970s and although building trades unions have increased the number of women in their ranks, women still make up a very small minority of members in the trades. Nationwide, female workers make up just 11 percent of the construction industry. In Maine it’s a little higher at 15 percent. Women commonly experience harassment and discrimination in the profession. In 2021, 1 in 4 women construction workers reported experiencing near constant sexual harassment on the job. Women workers who experience discrimination often don’t know whom to contact or how to report violations, according to a 2023 U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission report.
One of the biggest struggles women face in the trades is trying to prove that they can do the job just as well if not better than any man.
“I feel like there’s a pressure that I put on myself that I have to get something right the first time to prove that I have a place here,” said IBEW 567 apprentice Jenna Schaab of Scarborough. “I feel there’s more pressure and like less time to learn things and feel like I have to be on my 'A' game all the time. Otherwise I’m falling into the stereotype of 'Oh, she’s a woman. She can’t do this type of work.’”
The pressure women trades workers put on themselves can also take a toll on their mental health. But when they are able to connect with each other they can share their struggles, create a base of support and find solutions.
Having the support of other women also helps retain good workers. As Local 567 apprentice Jamie Siraco of Lewiston points out, “A lot of women join the trades, but unfortunately don’t complete the apprenticeship because of the isolation due to the stressors on the job that men don’t have to deal with.”
Shantelle Jackson of Windham, an IBEW 567 apprentice, added, “It’s hard to feel brotherhood sometimes when your experience is unique. So sharing those experiences with our sisters in the brotherhood is really helpful.”
What started as an informal texting group, slowly evolved and now they are seeking to become an officially recognized Women’s Committee within Local 567.
“Before I had other women to talk to I would say that my mental health definitely suffered as a result of the pressure I was putting on myself and it’s like a breath of fresh air having a collective group,” said Local 567 apprentice Riley Migneault
At the IBEW Women’s Conference in New Orleans, the Local 567 and 1253 members joined over 800 delegates from all the US and Canada. The apprentices also connected with other IBEW women in New England whom they are likely to run into on various jobs in the region. The conference featured workshops, panels and discussions about mentoring other women, dealing with imposter syndrome, building leaders and making unions and workplaces more inclusive. They discussed ways of recruiting more women, such as offering childcare during apprenticeship classes. The best part, said Local 567 and 1253 members, was the feeling of camaraderie.
“Everybody was just radiating togetherness,” said Meghan Murphy, an IBEW 567 apprentice. “It was so empowering to see so many others in the trades and know that we all face the same things and need to create a stronger, safer union and know that there’s this group that’s bigger than our group.”
The IBEW 567 and 1253 are in the process of setting up formal women’s committees within their locals to provide ongoing education, mentorship and support for each other. IBEW 1253 member Kim Tobias says many women don't report problems on the job site because they may not feel confident bringing the issue to a male steward and many contractors don’t have human resources departments. There are also rules and regulations that impact women such as having appropriate bathrooms and facilities for breastfeeding mothers on site. The committees also plan to do volunteer work to give back to their communities. By being more visible in their communities, she says they may also inspire other young women to pursue careers in the trades.
“I still think there’s a little bit of a stigma against women in construction, but we’re trying to change that,” said Tobias. "Part of role of the Women’s Committee is getting us out into the community, putting a face to the union sign you see outside of the building."
The Women’s Committee members stress that having more women in the trades and empowering them to have a strong voice in their unions benefits everyone.
“You don’t have to be afraid of having women on site,” said Jackson. “You’re still allowed to be who you are and the more of us who join, typically the better conditions become. We’re all in this together.”