Staff
Beth Berendsen
Rabail Sofi
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.
Chicago Construction Workforce Equity Ordinance
The unionized construction trades offer Chicagoans a proven pathway to economic security, providing workers with marketable skills, competitive wages, and full benefits. However, there are systemic barriers that have historically excluded women and people of color – particularly Black individuals – from this workforce. The result: in Cook County, less than 5% of apprentices are women, and only 6% of Chicago construction workers are African Americans. Data also shows that ⅔ of minority and women apprentices drop out of union apprentice programs prior to completion.
Fighting Back Against Federal Attacks on Gender Equity
Chicago Women in Trades has seen rapid changes in our work as the Trump Administration has settled into office. We know there are a lot of worries. We have information about these attacks and ways that we can fight back.
Policy Committee
CWIT empowers tradeswomen and provides opportunities for leadership development to enable them to directly shape advocacy efforts that impact their careers and the construction industry.
Interested in joining CWIT’s policy committee?
Contact:
Beth Berendsen
bberendsen@cwit.org
(312) 259-4459
Advocacy Campaign Actions
House Resolution 161
If you couldn’t join us for the Tradeswomen Take Over Springfield advocacy day, you can still contact your Illinois representatives and encourage them to co-sponsor House Resolution 161, calling on the state to stand up for tradeswomen against federal attacks.
The Uphill Battle to Bring Women into Construction Jobs Could Be Lost under Trump
Tradeswomen Advocate for Equity at Illinois State Capitol
