Policy Agenda
Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT) focuses on the following issues:
Local policy is focused on strengthening enforcement of the City of Chicago’s McLaughlin Ordinance, as well as community oversight, data transparency, and funding for supportive services.
The State of Illinois has allocated substantial funds to pre-apprenticeship. With the pipeline of diverse workers created by these investments, CWIT is looking to ensure that the hiring of these qualified, diverse workers by state contractors is strong.
Federal threats to gender equity in the unionized construction workforce have grown under the Trump administration, as affirmative action and anti-discrimination requirements for federal contractors have been reversed and DEI initiatives decimated. CWIT stands committed to educating federal partners on the importance of gender equity and the need for intervention to create economic opportunity for all.