Recently, when I turned 30 years old, I asked myself what exactly I wanted to do with my life and my career. She had worked in an office for six years, but was bored behind a desk, had lousy health insurance, and had no retirement plan. So I looked for ways to get involved with union carpenters and contractors in New York to build a better future for myself.
Working in construction has always been part of my family. My mom joined the Metal Workers Union when she was 30 years old with two kids. As she grew up she watched the way her life changed since she had a union job. 23 Years later, her union career gave her opportunities for growth, a salary that allowed her to support our family, and quality benefits that now give her the ability to retire. In addition, I have seen how much my mother enjoyed her career and the pride she takes in the projects she worked on to help improve the city she calls home.
Thinking about how the My mom’s experience gave me the push I needed to make a change in my life. I got out of the office chair and strapped on a tool belt, and began my journey to becoming a union carpenter. I joined a pre-apprenticeship program called NEW: Non-Traditional Employment for Women (or Empleo No Tradicional Para Mujeres in Spanish) because I wanted to be supported by a strong community of women. As a young Hispanic woman, my mom warned me about the challenges she could face throughout my career. I now have equal pay, equal benefits, and opportunities to expand my skills and experience through training because I work for the union.
Since I joined the union, I have worked in the NYCHA project in Red Hook, Brooklyn. It has been a rewarding experience helping members of our community. The project addresses infrastructure issues that arose during Hurricane Sandy and implements measures to protect residents from future flooding. It is very gratifying to know that working with union carpenters and contractors means that I am helping my fellow New Yorkers by building quality infrastructure with the highest level of safety. I look forward to continuing to work on projects like residential buildings, hospitals, and schools that will serve thousands of New Yorkers once this project is complete.
Thanks to the Union Carpenters Contractors, I have a support network and a lifelong career that provides retirement stability, quality health care, and safety training that equips me with the skills to make my mark on the world’s largest skyline view. My mother dedicated her union career to improving New York’s infrastructure and now is my chance to carry on her legacy by building the best of cities for future generations.