(The Center Square) – As the backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives continues across the country, scores of women gathered at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield calling for more trade jobs.
Dozens of building trades affiliates, union leaders, contractors and construction workers gathered Wednesday for Illinois Tradeswomen Advocacy Day. Attendees met with elected officials to discuss ways to recruit and retain women in construction careers.
“With the attacks on organized labor and working people coming from the White House, it is critical that we show our solidarity and the power of the labor movement,” said Tim Drea, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO.
The AFL-CIO announced a plan last December to increase the percentage of tradeswomen in Illinois to 20% in the next five years. It is now closer to 5%, with Drea admitting that the percentage has been stagnant the past few years.
President Donald Trump discusses the end of diversity, equity and inclusion policies Tuesday. Wednesday, Tim Drea with the Illinois ALF-CIO and state Rep. Lisa Hernandez, D-Cicero, discuss a resolution promoting women in trades.
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State Rep. Lisa Hernandez, D-Cicero, has introduced a resolution in an effort tocreate equal access to job opportunities in construction.
“To reaffirm our state’s commitment to advancing tradeswomen and to bring to mind the power that women have in our workforce,” said Hernandez.
President Donald Trump has been calling for the end of what he calls “illegal DEI discrimination.” In his address to Congress Tuesday, Trump said the U.S. will be “woke no longer.”
“Whether you are a doctor, an accountant, a lawyer or an air traffic controller, you should be hired and promoted based on skill and competence, not race or gender,” said Trump.
As soon as he took office, Trump began issuing executive orders to dismantle DEI programs in the federal government. Some U.S. companies followed suit to align with the Trump administration.
