The construction trades, which includes occupations such as carpenters, electricians, painters, plumbers, and equipment operators, employs over 6 million workers, making it one of the largest industries in the United States. The Department of Labor describes the industry as having relatively high hourly wages, overtime possibilities, union benefits, booming growth, and opportunities for skill development. However, only a very small percentage of women—2.5% nationwide—are reaping the benefits of employment in this industry.

The percentage of women in the construction trades remains extremely low as a result of gender discrimination at four levels:

• Women are denied access to trades apprenticeship programs
• Unions ñskip overî female employees when sending workers to jobs
• Many employers simply do not hire women
• Employers engage in and/or tolerate discriminatory behavior

At the apprenticeship level, only 7% of the apprentices in the United States are women.  The percentage of women enrolling in these programs, which entail on-the-job training and related classroom instruction, remains low partly because apprenticeship opportunities are communicated informally by word of mouth among men. Of those who enroll into a program, they are often assigned menial tasks, including clerical tasks, which do not provide them with on-the-job training needed to perform their trade. At the union level, tradeswomen often report that they are the last to be called for assignments by their union representatives.  Women who have overcome the barriers to training and gained access into the ñbrotherhoodî are finding that in a post Proposition 209 California, women need not apply.The attitude of many employers is “we’re just not interested in hiring women, and we don’t have to.” If placed on a job, tradeswomen face a myriad of problems, such as being assigned menial tasks unrelated to their trade, sexual harassment, denial of basic equipment and bathrooms, pay inequity, a lack of overtime opportunities and a hostile environment that can be tantamount to life-threatening situations.The practices outlined here are unfair and discriminatory, and often are in violation of federal and state laws.

ERA’s Tradeswomen Legal Advocacy Project aims to improve the working conditions and expand the advancement opportunities for women in the trades through impact litigation.ERA is currently working with a number of women’s rights and tradeswomen’s organizations to develop and implement a strategy to eradicate the discriminatory practices that hinder women’s involvement and advancement in the trades.

Know Your Rights: Tradeswomen’s Legal Rights

Tradeswomen Legal Advocacy Manual offers summaries of cases brought by tradeswomen since the passage of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.