LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Tens of thousands of union workers with construction and trades are behind the massive construction projects throughout the Las Vegas Valley, and there’s an effort from women workers to help recruit even more people to join unions and find good jobs.
The Southern Nevada Building Trades Unions represents 30,000 workers across 15 unions. They’re behind the major and high-profile projects in the Valley like Allegiant Stadium, to most recently, Fontainebleau, the Sphere and Durango Station.
According to union leaders, 6.6% are women. There’s an effort to recruit more women, help inform them about available jobs out there, and encourage them to connect with fellow peers.
“I want other women to join the trades, so they can also experience those life-changing situations–not only with just your income. But you as an individual, you’re going to grow in so many ways,” said Khrystyna Ramirez, a journeyman ironworker. Though her family members are in trades, even a cousin convinced her to look into training as an iron worker.
“‘Why don’t you give ironworkers shot?’ I straight up said, ‘No, I don’t want to do that. That’s for the guys,’” she said, but learned there were jobs she could do with her strength and body size.
“I’m fortunate and blessed to have the job in the skills that I do,” Ramirez said. “It’s changed my life in almost every way,” she said.
Union jobs have paid apprenticeships to earn while you learn, and include health benefits and retirement. That’s a reason that Jacqueline Abascal joined the profession 29 years ago.
“Years ago, it was a lot different. I rarely saw another woman…it’s really wonderful to see that there’s other women that are not afraid of working hard,” she said.
“When you get done at work as an iron worker, you see what you’ve accomplished. You’ve done something positive for our community,” she said.
For more information on careers, click on this website: Southern Nevada Building Trades Unions
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