Constructing Change With Danielle Wilson

Recent years have begun to see a positive shift in the role of women in construction. Making up 11% of the overall industry, women are being promoted to leadership roles in both the office and field. They’re also following more opportunities to become owners of their own construction businesses. And according to The Institute for Women’s Policy Research, female representation in the trades is the highest it’s been in two decades.

With Women in Construction (WIC) Week set for March 2-8, we wanted to highlight the strength of women within SMACNA Greater Chicago. We caught up with Danielle Wilson, a Local 265 journeywoman, for a glimpse into her everyday life on the job.

How did you get started in the industry?

My dream was actually to be a surgeon, but I ended up becoming a young mom and trying to do college and beauty school to make money. Also, once I started to work in a hospital, I realized I was too emotional. I come from a family where all the males are blue collar workers, and I have two brothers-in-law who are tinners. They kept telling me to apply and the apprenticeship was going to go quick — and they were right. It did. I got started as a pre-apprentice in 2016/2017.

What challenges have you faced/overcome as a woman in a male-dominated field?

As a woman in construction, you have to kind of stand your ground and get that thick skin — and I had to learn how to get it quick. But especially being a mom in this industry, a big challenge is daycare. You have to have tools in hand at 6 a.m., and that’s after an hour-and-a-half drive to get to work in the city. Plus, you have to be there 30 minutes before, so it’s a struggle. There’s a lot of single dads out there, too, and you can’t keep telling your company you’re going to be late or your kids don’t have school. Daycare is something my union has been looking into more and more this last year.

Also, tinners have the least amount of women in the trade, so they’d never had a woman come through that was pregnant. When I got pregnant, my biggest fear was that I was going to get laid off so I waited to say anything until I started showing. When I called my union president, he was excited for me. It was right away the leadership sat down and discussed maternity leave and voted on it. It was huge. My brothers I have — they’re family.

What advice would you give other women or students looking to enter the trades?

It’s OK to come into the industry and not know anything. You learn on the job! Your journeymen are your best teachers. I was as green as they came; I’d never heard of sheet metal until my brothers-in-law, and I’d never held snips. Now, I’m my company’s sheet metal welder. Even if this particular trade isn’t for you, there are so many others. You could be a plumber or electrician. Just find something you like and stick with it.