WHAT IT MEANS TO BELONG IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

ERIN O'BRIEN-HOFMANN | INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES DISTRICT COUNCIL 21

I’ve been a commercial painter since 2007. I joined because I was a waitress and a barmaid, just trying to get by while I waited to figure out whatever I’d do next. While working, I couldn’t help but notice that so many of my customers were union members. I didn’t totally understand what they did, but I knew they always had money, and I wanted that for myself too. I became a commercial painter with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 21, and I haven’t looked back. I was a painter for 12 years, then became a commercial paint instructor, then commercial paint coordinator. I kept moving up the ranks to Assistant Director of Training, then Director of Training, and now I’m the Director of Member Engagement.

Being a woman in construction hasn’t always been easy. It’s a male-dominated industry, obviously, and I’ve had to work harder than a lot of the guys around me to prove that I belong. But I’m a damn good painter, and I always say that this job may not be for every woman, but it’s for any woman. Women have the exact same ability that men do to paint, finish drywall, set glass, and work in any other trade – a lot of us just need encouragement to get started and feel like we belong. This is why I run our Women in Nontraditional Careers (WINC) pre-apprenticeship program, designed to show young women all of the different career opportunities available to them in the union construction industry. You can’t be what you can’t see, which is why it’s so important for women who are already in the trades to mentor those who are coming in behind us.

That’s why Women’s Committees and conferences like Tradeswomen Build Nations are so important. Tradeswomen Build Nations is the largest conference of tradeswomen in North America, bringing thousands of construction worker women together to strategize, brainstorm, and inspire one another. This year’s conference was in Chicago, and our District Council was proud to send about 20 members, some for the very first time. We heard amazing speakers, marched in a Banner Parade, and had a caucus with IUPAT members from District Councils across the U.S. and North America. Many IUPAT members spoke about how joining our union changed their lives and gave them confidence and the ability to be truly independent. That’s exactly how I feel. I have a great husband, and I love him, but I don’t need him – I make my own money and now that I have my trade, I always will.

I’m one of the founders of the DC 21 Women’s Committee, and our work is all about bringing more women into our union and keeping those who join. Some people think our biggest issue is recruitment, and obviously that’s part of it, but it’s also retention – making sure our women members feel comfortable, safe, and that we have policies that support them. One big issue for our female members is obviously related to family planning. Construction is hard, physical work, and because the vast majority of our members are men, we were slow to prioritize benefits related to pregnancy and birth. But I am proud to share that our International Union is taking big steps to change that. A few years ago, we adopted a policy that provides IUPAT members who have given birth 6-8 weeks of paid leave, and up to 6 months of paid leave for those unable to work during pregnancy.

The IUPAT is committed to having our union reflect our broader society. That’s why, at our 2024 General Convention, we voted to pass a resolution to increase our percentage of female members to 20% of our overall membership. I’m really proud to be part of a union that prioritizes members like me. But this progress, and that of our Women’s Committee and Tradeswomen Build Nations, is at risk under the current administration’s policies.

Recent federal policies have made it harder to advance the kinds of programs that make the building trades more inclusive and forwardthinking. But instead of letting that slow us down, it reminds us why our work and our unity matter more than ever.

Programs like our Women’s Committee, Tradeswomen Build Nations, WINC, and other initiatives that open doors for women and underrepresented workers are not just good for individuals; they strengthen our entire industry.

When opportunities are taken away or delayed, it’s not just projects that stall. It’s paychecks, local businesses, and community progress. Every home, bridge, and power plant we build supports families and neighborhoods. That’s why we must continue to invest in people, in all people who want to put their skills to work building our future.

Our industry’s success depends on the diversity, drive, and expertise of its workforce. We know that talent doesn’t come from one background or one story. It comes from every corner of our community. So, let’s keep recruiting, mentoring, and championing new workers. Let’s make sure every person who wants to build has a pathway to do it, and a union that’s ready to welcome them.

What all construction workers want, men and women both, is steady work, fair pay, and respect so we can take care of ourselves and our families. That’s why I’m so proud to be a member of District Council 21, and I hope more women follow in my footsteps. I’ll be there to support them the whole way through.