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Build Together: This Election, Make Your Voice Heard!

Much has been discussed about the Trudeau Liberal’s feminist A few years ago, Build Together expanded to include New
government – from a gender-parity cabinet, to making the status Canadians, youth, and Indigenous Peoples – the program helps
of women a stand-alone ministry, now called the Department for to identify barriers to these groups who have an interest in the
Women and Gender Equality – and if that has made an impact on trades, helps them overcome those barriers and, encourages
women in Canada over the last four years. While these measures them choose a pathway to the trades.
have been introduced, the issue of pay equity amongst genders
“I was asked by my local union if I would be interested, and I
still exists, with women making, on average, 31 cents less per
absolutely was! Nothing like Build Together existed in Manitoba
hour than their male counterparts. This statistic, however, doesn’t
when I was starting out in the trades 13 years ago,” Christina
hold the same weight when we’re talking skilled trades and
Thiessen, Build Together Manitoba Chapter.
apprenticeships.
There are currently seven provincial Build Together Chapters
“In our industry, our members work under negotiated project
across the country, and committees get involved in political action,
labour and collective agreements where rate of pay is determined
lobbying, addressing workplace culture, training and education,
by year of apprenticeship and journeyperson status – not their
community initiatives and creating awareness about opportunities
gender,” said Director of Workforce Development, Lindsay
that exist in the trades.
Amundsen. “The agreements set hours of work, wages, fair
dispatch procedures, pensions and health and welfare plans. All “Having tradeswomen able to lobby on women’s issues has been
of which level the playing field, to a degree, for women in our huge for me the last few years. Not only are discussing topics like
industry. But where the issue lays, is a lack of education about maternity leave, LQBTQS, and other pressing affairs important,
who we are, what we do and what sets us apart.” it’s vital that these issues and possible solutions come from the
mouths of actual tradeswomen, or those who have experience or
Enter Build Together, our workforce development program, aimed
identify as tradeswomen. It’s finally time for us to tell our own
at raising the awareness of the trades as a viable option to those
stories in our own words,” said Correy Anderson-Fennell, BC Build
traditionally left behind. The program originally started with a focus
Together Chapter.
on women.
We asked some Build Together members about their thoughts for
“Being a part of Build Together has opened my eyes to the issues
the upcoming Federal Election, and while great work has been
faced by many women in the trades and it has also allowed me to
done over the past four years, we know more needs to be done.
see the success of many women as well. With that being said
there is still a lot of work ahead and I love being a part of “We in the Maritimes are in a serious health care crisis and
something so important,” Kelly Cox, Newfoundland Build Together nothing is being done to identify or aid our current situation,” said
Chapter. Ramonda Martin, Build Together Nova Scotia Chapter. “I wish our
PM would ask for more input from our Premiers to better stay in
touch with the provinces.”
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