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| Opal Connor has been an apprentice with Operating Engineers Local 3 for four years. She loves working with heavy equipment, building bridges, and doing things that people wouldn’t think women can do. “We’re moving dirt and building California. When I’m driving down the freeway with my kids, I tell them, “I helped build that bridge.” It’s a good feeling. Before joining the Operating Engineers, she drove an 18 wheeler, but she wanted to spend less time traveling and more time being a parent. And she wanted the protection of a union job. “When you’re in the union and go out on a job, they have to take you, whether you are a man or a woman. And they have to treat you with dignity.” She related one of many experiences in which the union came through for her: “I was working with this one company building a bridge out of Hollister and they weren't paying my regular wage. I called my union rep, and they came down there in two carloads full. I mean they came in deep, at least 8 of them. I got another check. Operating Engineers is number one. We stick together like a family.” |
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