Women in skilled trades gather for parade, rally, conference

Nearly 2500 tradeswomen from the U.S. and Canada are expected to attend the Ninth Annual Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference, which starts today in Minneapolis, Minn.

The event, hosted by North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), will feature a parade and rally tomorrow to promote greater diversity and inclusion in the trades.

It is said to be the largest tradeswomen conference in the world, bringing together thousands of tradeswomen from 47 states and 8 Canadian provinces to learn, network, mentor, and support each other.

Plenary sessions and workshops will address the most pressing issues facing tradeswomen, as well as the important research and investments that are improving recruitment, education, training, safety, equality, benefits and building trades’ career opportunities for women.

Although focused on construction and building trades, the event attracts women from a wide range of skilled trades, including automotive repair and maintenance.

www.nabtu.org