Women Building California Conference 2010

Organized Labor

Ray Trujillo, Northern California Regional Director, State Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
Women have proven since Rosie the Riveter that they can do this work. When women entered the trade, the first reaction was, “What is this women doing taking a man's job? She should be home making cookies.” We have had pioneering women who have worked 30 years in the trade, and I can tell you that these days, women not only make cookies, but they bring home the bacon. They have proven themselves, not only doing the job, but as union organizers and doing political work. They have been a great asset to the trades. So my advice to women: It's not just a great job for women, it's a career, and we welcome you.