Gay ironworkers

The off the Job accident program has been a God's send for our injured members and helps them from digging a financial hole. There is a process of educating the members, following up with the paperwork to the Trust Fund, insuring the member is paid. This extra time is on behalf of the Business Manager but it is worth it.

Sincerely, Michael L. F or years, construction workers have faced the risk of being ostracized, bullied or fired over their sexual orientation or gender identity. The same year, a successful architect, who wishes to remain anonymous due to fear of reprisals, said he was fired when the owners of his company monitored his texts gay ironworkers found out he was gay.

Things escalated to the point where unfounded rumors spread among his colleagues that he had AIDS, based solely on the suspicion of his sexual orientation. When he raised concerns to one of his supervisors, nothing happened. Today, all three have overcome these negative experiences and work to show how inclusivity benefits the industry.

Richter owns two successful construction companies in the Chicago area. He also moved to a more inclusive workplace, at WSP, where he thrives as an award-winning senior technical principal. The most significant impacts have been on the culture of our organization and connectivity among our people.

In addition, diverse teams tend to be more productive and benefit from people with different backgrounds and viewpoints, he says. Mykka Ellis, who joined the Ironworkers Union as a trans woman insays she got a lot of support when they would send her out to jobsites.

Once on site though, some of the other tradeworkers were shocked to see a trans woman ironworker. When Mercedes Greene first entered the trades in New York City more than a decade ago, she first experienced being treated differently as a woman. Then, when male workers learned she was a lesbian, a few would refuse to work with her.

Both Ellis and Greene have since gay ironworkers themselves as hard workers who excel at their jobs.

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But in an effort to make entering the trades less traumatic for future prospects, industry groups have initiated programs to make worksites more inclusive. Continue reading on enr. Most popular tags. Connect with us:. Login Register Forgot Password. By Scott Blair F or years, construction workers have faced the risk of being ostracized, bullied or fired over their sexual orientation or gender identity.

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