In the United States we celebrate March as Women Month but March 8

th

is honored as

International Women’s Day throughout the world. This special 2014 international

issue is heading up with Sheila White who showed by example how any woman can

fight for her rights in the American work place. In her book “My Fight With a Giant”

she describes what her life was like working in the railroad yards of Tennessee, how

she learned to stand up for herself, and how she helped the legal system defend her

from the discrimination, retaliation, and humiliation she experienced. Sheila took her

fight all the way to the US Supreme Court and won! In the process she helped open

the door for all working women. It is a true story about courage, determination and

triumph. The Court’s determination in her case is president setting because it found

that retaliation does not have to be an adverse employment action to be unlawful.

(Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. White - ... Argued April 17, 2006 and decided June 22,

2006. Full case name, Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company, Petitioner v. Sheila White.)

POETRY TO CELEBRATE

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

SISTERS

Today a perfectly dressed office lady walked past my work site.

She looked at me in my hard hat and dirty overalls and she smiled.

Put her thumb up in the air and smiled again! I smiled back. Dressed so differently yet,

spirits so aligned for a minute of sisterhood!

© By Minnie Baker, (Carpenter, Chicago IL)

Women Are Making History Every Day

When the country was young No education, only hard work

Settlement – slavery – colonization

When the country was young We labored in the home and factory,

Sometimes dying on the job Shirtwaist Factory 1910

When the country was young We fought for the right to speak in public

And our right to vote Susan B. Anthony – Ida May Wells – Elizabeth Stanton – Harriet Tubman

When the country was young We worked in the shipyards,

Supporting, always supporting Rosie the Riveter 1940’s

We are all grown up now It’s time to tell our stories

© By Johnella LaRose

MY FIGHT WITH A GIANT

BY SHEILA WHITE, Published by

Robertson Publishing,

Los Gatos CA

www.robertsonPublishing.com

Also available on Amazon.

March 8th has been celebrated as International Women's Day since 1910, when European labor leader, Clara Zetkin, proclaimed that date to commemorate the struggles of women throughout the world to better themselves in the workplace. The date was picked to show unity with American female garment workers in New York City who on that day, marched through the streets demanding an end to horrendous sweatshop conditions. They were also fighting for equal pay and equal work, childcare centers and the right to vote! These were issues that women around the world were also struggling with. The garment workers had been waging a drawn out battle with brutal factory owners. Many of them gave their lives in the New York City conflict and March 8th bestows international honor upon them.

Over the years March 8th’s demonstration of solidarity continued to be celebrated in many countries, each highlighting its own particular struggles. In 1967, commemoration of the day in the U.S. began on a larger scale. And by 1970, owing to the growing women's and civil rights movement, events were planned to observe March 8th in many of the major cities throughout the country. It is now considered the principal day of the month of March in which to hold rallies, forums, media shows and school programs observing women's herstory, struggles, victories and cultures throughout the world.

Enjoy some international voices in this issue! Sue Doro, Editor

Saturday Still going strong – energy –

Making a living for the rest of my family SATURDAY

I’ll get ahead Yes to time and a half!

SATURDAY I’ll rest tomorrow

A day off with my family

© Rosalee Ojeda, Carpenter, Hayward CA Local 713

ELLA PUEDE

SHE CAN DO IT

My Name is Amanda Reitzen Sidney Australia

I'm a born and bred Sydneysider, a single mum of two kids, and a first year electrical apprentice. The same year I turn 40! I always wanted a trade. As a kid I wanted to be a tiler. All those beautiful straight lines! But it was just never considered the done thing for girls at the time. I grew up in a university suburb. At primary school we would all march down to the campus pool for our swimming lessons. It was just a given that I would go straight to uni after school and get a degree.

I enrolled in Science. I was very arty in high school and I was being encouraged to take up a career in graphic design, but I loved Biology. I had pictures of whales and dolphins all over my bedroom walls.I enjoyed my uni experience. I studied Maths, Chemistry, Ecology, Genetics, Environmental Science, Plant Biology and Statistics. But it gave me zero career direction. After I graduated, I fell into IT. It was completely by accident - and up until that point I hadn't a clue how to operate a computer - but I took to it like a duck to water. I worked on a help desk, did tech support, learnt how to program web sites, built databases, and managed projects. I loved data most of all. But working in an office was dreary and draining, and once I had mastered each role I quickly became bored.

In 2005 I became pregnant with my first child and decided to resign and spend a few years at home. Fast forward to 2012. I had two little kids under 5, had just separated from my partner and was coming to terms with the harsh reality of being out of the workforce for a long period of time. I knew I had to retrain, but in what? A few of my friends had done an Accounting diploma and were having success finding part-time work with family friendly hours. Sure, I could do that with my eyes closed, but did I really want to go back to doing office work? I spent many hours looking at all the different courses on the TAFE web site. (Technical and Further Education)

I kept coming back to Horticulture. It was something I always wanted to do. One day I mustered up enough courage and enrolled in Landscape Construction. It was exciting and terrifying at the same time. My first day in class was surreal. I was the only girl. And standing 5'0" with my steel caps on, I stood out like a sore thumb. We went outside to be shown how to mix concrete in a wheelbarrow. I was too terrified to even have a go.

Over the next 12 months, my confidence grew. My fellow students were a constant source of encouragement for me. They believed in me even when I didn't! I operated a concrete mixer. Cut sandstone pavers with a wet saw. Erected a timber retaining wall. Laid paving. Built a brick pier. I was in heaven.

After I finished my Landscaping course, I had the building bug. I immediately enrolled in Carpentry. With all the numbers and calculations in the theory component, I was in my element. But I was struggling to find on the job training. I was doing casual garden maintenance in between school hours. I approached a local builder and asked if I could do some unpaid work experience. On a residential renovation project, there were three carpenters. All gentle giants; extremely supportive and patient. They involved me in almost everything they were doing. I watched as the three of them struggled to lift and place an enormous steel girder. My heart sank. I really wasn't cut out for this type of work.

The Christmas period was a time for reflection. Most of my gardening clients were on holidays, and I was getting ready to spend some quality time with my kids. I was in a real quandary about my career. Should I really give up everything I've worked so hard to achieve and go back to what I'm used to? I was in the middle of renovating my first unit and the electrician had brought over some supplies. Always curious, I started asking questions. Suddenly, I was fascinated. I got it! Where carpentry is the skeleton of the building, electrical is the central nervous system! My head started spinning. Electrical. Really?? Could this be the thing I've been looking for all along? The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Science. IT. Maths. Hands on. Brains. Creativity. Fine motor skills. Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.

I saw a job ad for first year apprentices. I hesitated, then applied, thinking I had nothing to lose, like all the other job ads I had applied for in Carpentry that got me nowhere. An hour later, the phone rang. Could I come in for an interview right away? I got straight into my car and drove an hour to meet the boss man. I had

explained in my cover letter that I was a mum, and that I may need to come in late a few mornings a week because I had to drop my kids at school. He said it was slightly problematic, but not a deal breaker.

We had a chat for about an hour. I told him all about my career history and my dream of having a trade under my belt. He could see my potential, my smarts and my hunger to learn. He offered me the job on the spot, to start the week after New Year's. I nearly fell off my chair. The next two weeks were a blur of trying to organise child care and buying tools for the job and trying to convince myself that it was actually happening!

I'm now six weeks into the role. I've hit the ground running and I am totally in my element. I can even read and interpret the plans and explain them to the other first years! Finally, a role that I can really sink my teeth into. Physically and intellectually challenging, no two days the same, and once I'm qualified, I can go anywhere and do anything. Not to mention that demonstrating to my kids that hard work and persistence pays off, always.

I want to end with a quote I heard from an interview with a female electrician I saw on Youtube: "When you find something that fits your personality, you grow as a person."

From a humble first year apprentice sparky. Bring on 2014. It's time to shine. © 2014 Amanda Reitzin, Electrician Sidney Australia

Hello Sister Tradies My Name is Millie Morris Grafton NSW, Australia

I will try and be brief about my career as an electrician in Australia that began in 1986. My name is Millie Morris and originally a farm girl that learnt at a young age (12) how to drive tractors, cars, trucks and motor bikes. I had a passion for wanting to know how mechanically they worked. Living on a remote farm we had no electricity so mechanical things were important. This is where I learnt about generators supplying electricity for our TV and a few lights. Later my mother introduced battery lights and TV. This meant I could run wires and have more lights and even ones with switches...I found this amazing. Anyway I’m meant to be keeping this brief. I found my way to the local TAFE and enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship course that ran for 12 months and covered 2 years theory of an electrical apprenticeship. I did very well in the course and picked up the most progressive pre-apprentice of the year. I was very happy with this as I had 4 apprenticeships offered to me. So this was the beginning of 28 years in the industry. I had some great achievements and some very low times, one time going through a sexual harassment case that shook me to the core but not enough to make me quit. I loved then and still do love being an electrician. Back in the year 2000 I had the opportunity to take on the air conditioning / refrigeration trade so I did another apprenticeship and another 3 years at TAFE. Again I picked awards of excellence and did very well at my studies. Presently I am a contractor working for a nursing home taking care of the maintenance and installations and enjoy this work as it is very rewarding working in the aged care industry. I am also now beginning to teach refrigeration/electrical at the very institute I began with in 1986 and where I did my refrigeration trade.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would do a complete circle and end up where I began my career as an electrician. I now live in the country town I grew up in but when I took up my apprenticeship I moved to the big smoke where I learnt so much... not only about my trade but life skills too. This little country girl had never been to the * Big Smoke and once I got there I was hooked for 15 years before moving back home.

Anyway I could go on and on about what I have been through in my trade over the last 28 years but I would need heaps more time to share.

I am glad I stuck with it and think it is a great trade for women and have finally found a very supportive group: SALT- Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen to share my stories and friendships with other women that have been in the trade for a long time or with women that are just starting out.

I Am Joann Greeley St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada

I am a hiker, runner, kayaker, yogi and an electrician. I have worked at hardware stores, pool stores, trucking companies, video stores, horse barn, fish and chip shop and I have sold shoes.

How did I end up being an electrician??

Not really sure, it you had told me 10 years ago that I would be in electrician living NL I wouldn't have believed you. My first job was at my father’s hardware store when I was 8 and made 10 cents an hour. I counted wire staples and put them in bags of 50 and 100...I am sure my fingers were raw. I learned my first life lesson there. I wanted to buy an owl night light, I can still see it, when it came time to pay I was short money. I was devastated when Dad told me I would have to come back the next Saturday to earn enough to pay for it. This when I found out that if you want something you are going to have to work for it. Nothing comes free.

He has a saying...The world owes you a living and you have to work hard to collect it..

I grew up in Topsail, the oldest of 4. We had a good life but always had to our chores in order to get an allowance. I spent many Friday nights mowing the front lawn before I went out with my friends. I really loved working with my Dad and continued to work at his hardware store on Saturdays. I guess I never knew that “girls” didn't do that.

He always had us helping him and we loved it. I should also mention that my Mom is very handy as well and has her own tool box.

When I finished high school I headed to Toronto to the big city. I jumped around different retail jobs and moved to Waterloo after a couple of years. I lived in Waterloo for 15 years and loved it. Never thought I would leave there. Then I was drawn back to NL.

When I came home I figured that I would be able to find a job similar to Waterloo and make the same money...not so....I went for and interview and the person told me that if things worked out I could earn up to $15 per hour. Wow...what a shock... That weekend I was visiting friends and they told me that the government was promoting women in the trades and they would help you get through school. I figured what do I have to lose. Dad's and electrician and he is the same size, if he can do it I can do it. So everything was arranged and I was off to school. I just had to do a 9 month and get my hours no problem. Or so I thought.

School was an eye opener. I was in a class room with 17 guys. And there were only 2 other women on the whole campus. I was also the oldest person in my class at 35. It was a pretty lonely feeling. Luckily I had an excellent teacher. Wayne Predham. He was very professional and didn't treat me any different then the guys. I made great friends that year and I am still in touch with many of them.

Of course this is where I experienced my 1st taste of that is meant to be a women in a “man's” world. One guy wouldn't work with me in the booths because I was a woman. I thought that was pretty funny and laughed it off. There were many conversations that I didn't feel comfortable with and walked away from. This is where I decided that I would to hold myself to a high standard and not get involved with sharing personal information with the guys I was working with. You will learn early on that this is a slippery slope. Once you start that kind of vulgar banter it doesn't usually end up with you on the winning end.

My experience taught me to keep it light, don't take it personally and have a good sense of humour. I made it through Trade school and went to work. It was a commercial job with a great boss. My confidence grew and I loved the feeling of building things.

When that job was completed they moved me to another worksite with a different boss. The new boss was 6'3 and had a bright red beard. He told me to take a 12' ladder and set it up in the middle of the room so that I could take pipping off the ceiling. I dragged the ladder over and did a gymnastic move to get it set up and started to climb. I had never been on a ladder that tall and the sweat was dripping off me. I was gripping the ladder so tight with my legs for balance that I actually left marks. After about 15 minutes he called me down

and said “ great job...wondered if you could do that or not” He challenged me and I had to challenge myself. I wasn't going to let fear get the better of me and failure was not an option. Thought out my apprenticeship there have been many challenges like that. Bending 1”pipe is not easy even for the guys but I can manage to do it. My technique is a little unorthodox and looks funny but I can get the job done. Remember that there are many ways to do things you just have to think outside the box.

While I am speaking of challenges I'll talk a little about ladies and bathrooms.

The job I was talking about earlier with Red Beard was in CBS. (Conception Bay South) When I asked to where the washroom was he told me downstairs to the left. When I went down there here is a toilet set up in the middle of the room whit 10 men working around it. As I made my way back up the stairs there was Red Beard on his way down laughing....he said I guess you are going over to Sobey's (grocery store). Be prepared to use porta potties, drive to a toilet and sometimes pee in the woods. This is where the good sense of humour comes in.

After completing my hours and finishing my 2st block I was back on the job market and the market was bleak. I called every electrical company in the phone book and kept records of who I had called and what they said. I kept running into brick walls. I had to take a job in a retail store. The good thing, I was working in the electrical dept. but the pay was 9.25 an hour. And I really didn't want to be there.

Then one evening I noticed a man with a jacket that said “Joe Smith Electric” I had called “Joe many times. I walked up to him and asked if he was Joe and he said he was. I introduced myself and told him I had called him many times for job. He asked if I like where I was working and I told him that I didn't and wanted to work as an electrician and needed more hours. He told me to come in on Tuesday morning 9am. I was there with bells on. He lectured me for about an hour about what it meant to be and electrician and I figured I wasn't get the job just the lecture....but by the end he offered me and job and asked me when I could start.

Sometimes you have to go out on a limb if you really want something. Put yourself out there and show you want the job.

After several months it was back to school and then a layoff. It just felt like everything was such a struggle. Throughout all of this I had been working with the OAWA and they were a wonderful support. I attended meetings and we as women talked a lot about what our struggles where. We were a small but mighty group and each time I walked way I knew that I could do this. I met other women that had there IP. I was going to get my ticket and no one was going to stop me. I think I got very stubborn about it.

Next I had a lead on a residential job. Figured I would give it a try as I didn't have any residential experience. The company was Ted Chaulk's Electric. Ted had never hired a woman before and I think he was a little surprised that I wanted to work for him. I wouldn't take no for an answer. This is when the wage subsidy had just started and I contacted Cindy and got all the info. I went back to Ted and told him how it all worked. We make a deal. I would work for him for 1 month and if he wasn't pleased with my work we would part ways. I loved working for Ted and he was always amazed by what my work ethic. At first he didn't know what I was capable of. He sent me to a job on my own to put a few lights. One of them was in a stairwell about 15 feet up. I set up a ladder and was putting the light up when he walked in to check on me. He told me to come down off the ladder...he was very concerned...I asked what was wrong...he said. You don't have to put that light up there...aren't you afraid??

Afraid of what? I asked what was I supposed to do and he said he would send one of the guys over to put it up, it was too high for me. I told him not to be so foolish no one was going to be doing my work. He stayed and had a chat while I put the light up. A few weeks later we had to install and underground service. It was Oct and it rained all day. Ted stayed with us that day because it was such a big job. I spent the full day in a ditch cold and wet, my fingers were like prunes.

The next day was pay day and Ted told me that he gave me a $1 raise because I worked so hard. I was on top of the world. To have my boss recognize my hard work. When I left Ted I asked him to do me a favour...hire another women. And he did. He is so happy with her work he wouldn't have it any other way. Then it was time to write my IP. How exciting. This is what I was working towards. I wrote my exam on Friday and left the country on Saturday. I waited in Portugal for the results of the exam. I felt pretty good when I wrote it and told Dad if I didn't pass I got a 69% hahaha...

Received the results and sure enough...69% fail. What a kick in the pants. I was so disappointed. The whole experience was so humbling. When we got home I locked myself in the house and studied my heart out for 20 days. And wrote again....the sweat was pouring off of me. I received the results later that day and I had passed 72%. I felt taller and prouder then I ever had in my life...I did it. Then I called my family and it was the ugly cry. They were all so happy for me. It was a very big day! Jan 19th to be exact.

Since then I have worked at the Long term care facility in St. John’s. When I showed up on that job there were 8 other women. I couldn't believe it. It was the 1st time I worked with a female apprentices and journey women I worked in LHPP as an electrician and was promoted to Craft Safety Ambassador. Once again because of my work ethic and outgoing personality they chose me out of hundreds of other workers Now I am completing my Construction Safety Officer and expect to be back in Long Harbour in the new year.

There are a few things that I would like to instill in you today: If you decide you want to work in the trades be ready to work hard. You will be rewarded. Trust yourself and know that you can do the job as well if not better than the men. Stay professional...when you are on a worksite you don't just represent yourself but all women in the trades.

Make sure you have a good support system. You will need them when the going gets tough. Last but not least I would like to thank the OAWA. (Office to Advance Women Apprentices) Without them I would have given up long ago. They were my backbone when I thought I couldn't do it anymore.

Thanks! Yes We Can!

Mind, Body and Spirit…Becoming One With Our Work

by Stella Cheng, Mason, Rodes France

There is a belief in the guild, that a person embodies their trade...or rather, that the raw materials that one uses, influence their personality. While the determination s/he must apply to their material to "tame" it, molds their own spirit, the materials shape the craftsperson's body by its resistance or its workability. A worker's musculature and callouses will tell you which tools they wield all day. Someone who works soft limestones is more likely to be pleasant and agreeable; whereas, a carver that works ferociously hard granites tends to be the stubbornest bastard on earth. In the guild centers, the tradesmen live together, whether they be baker, carpenter or metal worker. Just looking how their bodies are formed, you can tell which trade they do. The set of their jaws, the meanness or softness in their eye give you the clues you need. And then, when you have a drink with a few of them, the things they say and how it is said also indicate the material they might work. The pastry chefs are sooooo funny...almost frivolous with their icings and delicious colors. The bakers are pale and soft like the dough they knead...and are game for any foolish thing you might suggest. The cabinet workers bend and curve, changing directions like the laminated strips with which they create their works. The carpenters are easy to get along with: they understand grain and fiber and which way to work their wood, and apply the same principles to the people around them. Metalworkers may seem cold at first...but once you warm them up and pound on them a bit, they become malleable and fluid, showing an incomparable resilience. Ironworkers, blacksmiths and coppersmiths may all work metal, but they are as different as lion tamers are from poodle trainers. Their temperament reflects the qualities of their metal of choice.

Editor Note: This issue was so much fun to put together. Working with these International sisters expanded my belief that tradeswomen around the world go through the same kinds of issues…the good and the bad and the in-between. The more we know about each other the less alone we feel. The more we reach out to each other the stronger we become. Yes it can be done…*Si Se Puede is more than a saying. It is the absolute TRUTH. I’ll be spending March 8th this year, in Vancouver BC Canada with three incredible tradeswomen authors. All sharing what we know with an audience of people who want to learn why and how women are working in careers that used to be the exclusive habitat of males. I’m proud to represent my US sisters; proud to be accepted as a peer by my Canadian sisters; and proud to be looking ahead to the April 25-27 Women Building California and the Nation conference in

Sacramento CA. The circle of sisterhood comes home! See you there! www.sbctc.org Sue Doro

Si Se Puede: Motto of the United Farm Workers

HEY….TRADESWOMEN CONFERENCE ATTENDEES …COME TO THE BLUE JEAN POCKET WRITERS WORKSHOP!

Write what’s in your hearts and you’ll be truthful. Write what thoughts go on under your hard hats and you’ll be courageous. Write what driving force creates your muscles and you’ll have the strength to continue. Write. And do it with your sisters at the Blue Jean Pocket Writers Workshop!

Facilitated by Sue Doro, Retired Railroad Machinist and Editor Pride and a Paycheck, Oakland CA Co-facilitated by Joanna Perry-Kujala, Published Poet and Journey Electrician, Concord CA

www.tradeswomen.net

www.sbctc.org

www.prideandapaycheck.com

www.tradeswomen.org

PRIDE AND A PAYCHECK 484 Lake Park Avenue, #315, Oakland CA 94610. Sue Doro, Editor. Email us at tradesis@aol.com SEND ARTICLES AND POETRY FOR CONSIDERATION. JOIN OUR PRIDE AND A PAYCHECK FACEBOOK PAGE TO COMMUNICATE WITH TRADESWOMEN AROUND THE WORLD. The Editor is a retired Railroad Machinist, author and member of the National Writers Union, Local 1981 (UAW Affiliate) as well as the United Association of Labor Education, Local 189 (Affiliate of CWA), & Working Class Studies Assoc., and www.railroadworkersunited.org, Tradeswomen, Inc. and NAWIC (National Assoc. of Women in Construction), the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), retired member of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and International Association of Machinists (IAM). Pride and a Paycheck is produced by the Editor who is responsible for content. Thanks to the ongoing support of Northern California Carpenters Training Program. Special thanks to Madeline Mixer, Larry Robbin, Joycelyn Robbinson-Hughes, Ironworker Jeanne Park, Electrician Joanna Perry-Kujala, Melina Harris and Sisters in the Building Trades, Women in Trucking and its President Ellen Voie, Sheet Metal worker Rita Magner, Operating Engineer Pat Williams and Vivian Price of Southern CA Tradeswomen Archives, Sister Rails women, the WATT Electricians of Houston Texas and their President Pat Burnham, Indiana Steel Mill Worker Donna De Graaf-Smith, author and Carpenter Kate Braid in Vancouver BC, Mason Stella Cheng in France, Fi Shewring and the Australian Tradies from Supporting and Linking Tradeswsomen as well as all the other international tradeswomen writers and poets like Stella Cheng in France and Canadian Kate Braid who share their work lives with us and in turn inspire other sisters to write from their hearts and hard hats!

Pride and a Paycheck is written completely by tradeswomen. Advertising is now being accepted. Contact Sue Doro at tradesis@aol.com

Your ad will not only be included within the pages of monthly issues of Pride and a Paycheck to be downloaded and printed by subscribers and internet visitors BUT IS WILL ALSO APPEAR ON A SEPARATE SPECIAL NEW WEBSITE PAGE “ADVERTISORS AND SUPPORTERS” ALONG WITH YOUR OWN WEBSITE ADDRESS!

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