Steamfitter

Union member for 33 years

What inspired you to become a steamfitter? I had a chance encounter with a friend-of-a-friend, a woman who was working in a construction trade, and our conversation opened up a whole new world of possibilities.

How has being a member of Local 393 affected your life? I went from being a very unhappy office worker doing menial, low-paying clerical work to an exciting career doing incredibly challenging — both physically and mentally — high-paying work on the cutting edge of semiconductor, biotechnology, and other high-tech industries in Silicon Valley. All within the space of five years, from the time I applied to the time I completed my apprenticeship. It was without a doubt the best career decision I ever made.  

Do you have any advice for young union women? Take good care of your body from the very beginning because it has to last you through your entire career. So: gloves, hard hat, safety glasses, ear plugs, vigilance, awareness of your surroundings, and common sense. Take a class or two in how to protect your back, knees, hands, wrists, and all other body parts from repetitive stress. I say this not to scare anyone away, but because it’s only fair to point out that part of the reason for the high wages and good benefits is that construction work does have its risks, too.

What have you learned from being a tradeswoman? Home maintenance, repairs, new technologies — it really extrapolates to many other arenas of life. Learning something so far removed from what society had expected of me taught me that the knowledge is out there. You just have to ask questions, do research, practice, find yourself a mentor, whatever it takes. Gender isn’t the limiting factor — it’s desire, motivation, and the willingness to try.