International Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers,
San Francisco Joint Apprenticeship
and Training Committee
Organized Labor
October 2009
Laurie Nicholson, Apprentice My dad is in the trades. He's a stationary engineer. Growing up, I used to follow him around, and he told me that this was a good trade. Electricians made more money. So that's what I pursued. It's been great. It's really challenging to be on the job and to deal with the physical and mental strain. But then I come home, look at my paycheck, and I know that I really worked for it. Being a woman in the trade, you feel a sense of pride. When you're walking around out there with your hard hat, people stop you and ask you what you do. Then they say, “Oh that's so great.” Even people in the other trades will tell you they are proud of you. Of course bad things will happen, either because you’re an apprentice or a woman. I got through it talking to other apprentices, and they’ll say, “Just don’t let him dis you.” As a woman in the trades, you have to have guts. Some girls can’t handle it. But you realize they get down on the guys too. So you learn to dish it right back. The hardest part is how slow it's been because of the economy. I love my job