As part of my ongoing professional development and craft as a Red Seal Journeyperson carpenter, I am pleased to share the news that I will be part of the Tradeswomen Building Bridges delegation from November 10 to 22, 2024.
Tradeswomen Building Bridges (TBB) is a not-for-profit organization focused on building North American representation in the global network of tradeswomen advocating for themselves. TBB is a powerful network of union tradeswomen from across North America working together to promote the inclusion and advancement of women in the trades.
Any union member in the construction industry across North America who identifies as a woman, including transgender and non-binary individuals, is eligible to apply to become part of the TBB and its delegations. I encourage all sisters working in the construction trades who are interested in this unique opportunity to consider applying in the future.
We will collaborate with the Association of Women Workers in the Construction Industry and other grassroots organizations. Our goals include enhancing leadership skills, cultural awareness, and supporting our Filipino sisters as we help them to develop their carpentry and plumbing skills. By building transnational connections, we hope to strengthen our global community of union tradeswomen and advocate for positive change at home and abroad.
I will be joined by Angel Anderson who is a member of Local 343 in Winnipeg. Angel is a Level 3 scaffold apprentice who has been with the union for more than six years. Her passion for scaffolding is inspiring, and she is eager to use this opportunity to grow her network and knowledge, representing her Local with pride.
As a TBB delegate, I will also be proudly representing the CRC and am grateful for the support of Local 1325 and its executive committee. Over the course of my 17-year career, I’ve pushed for greater diversity within our ranks by advocating for more inclusion of women, Indigenous workers, and other equity-seeking groups. The TBB delegation offers a unique opportunity to learn from our global counterparts and bring valuable insights back to our union.
For more information, visit tradeswomenbuild.org.
In solidarity,
Kristine Byers
Union Business Representative
Carpenters’ Regional Council – Alberta
