Steam-Pipefitter

Union member for 19 years

How did you get into this job? I was living with my cousin, who was a second year plumbing apprentice, when I got laid off from a shipping and receiving job. He would talk to me all the time about how joining the union and learning a trade would be so much better for me than having to work multiple jobs for close to minimum wage. I’ve always been mechanical. I love working with my hands and building things. I just didn’t know that was a thing for women.

How has Local 393 changed your life? Meeting my husband on the job. We met at SunMicro, site of the old Agnews Hospital. Some people think it’s funny that we met at a mental institution, some don’t! I also have a skill that no one can take away from me. I earned it!

What does being a union member mean to you? It means more than just paying my dues. I try to approach work with the attitude of “make myself look good, make my foreman look good, make the company look good, and make 393 look good.”

What is it like being a woman in the trades?  I grew up with two sisters and went to an all-girls high school. I was raised to believe that women can do anything. Also, I feel there is a bond among the women in the trades. When we see each other on the jobsites, we get excited, even if it’s a stranger. We try to build each other up, not tear each other down. It’s also made me tougher than I wanted to be, but I like the person I am now.

What is your proudest accomplishment? Becoming the first female president in the history of UA Local Union 393.