Building a New Landscape: Women Train to be Operators

(Palmer, AK) It never occurred to Leslie Dunlap of Anchorage that she might like to operate a backhoe or a bulldozer. She had worked at gardening jobs and was a licensed massage therapist. Yet she wanted a career, a rewarding occupation with good benefits. In April, a friend pointed out an ad in the Anchorage Daily News inviting women to attend an Alaska Works Partnership orientation for construction trades.

“It had never crossed my mind that I could get into a union construction trade until I saw the ad,” Dunlap said. “I like being outdoors, I like working hard, and I don’t mind getting dirty.”

Dunlap decided to investigate and several weeks later she found herself running a CAT320C excavator at a three-week heavy equipment operator’s training course. The training was conducted in June 2006 at the Alaska Operating Engineers/Employers Training Center (AOE/ETT ) in Palmer.

Twelve women from a variety of backgrounds and regions around the state were selected by Alaska Works Partnership’s Women in the Trades Construction Apprenticeship Preparation program to attend the training. Since graduation, some of the women have already gone to work. Others plan to apply for the Operating Engineers apprenticeship program this fall where they will continue their schooling and build their skills through on-the-job training.

Apprentice Coordinator Betty Jo Dibble said that training offered by Women in the Trades Construction Apprenticeship Preparation and the AOE/ETT gives women information to make informed decisions about a career as an operator.

“It gives gals an opportunity to try different pieces of equipment, to listen to staff, and to find out what the lifestyle is really like,” Dibble said. “It gave them a taste of the job, good information and some seat time.” She added that the June class was highly enthusiastic -- all graduates stated they wanted to continue in the field.

Dunlap graduated at the top of her class and decided that working as an operating engineer was just the career she’d been looking for. She intends to apply for apprenticeship and knows that the training she received will give her an edge in the competitive selection process.

“The training was really helpful, the instructors were great, and the other women were all good to work with,” Dunlap said. “I’m very interested in the union career concept; it seems like a good path to take in life.”

Alaska Works Partnership’s Women in the Trades Construction Apprenticeship Preparation program began in 2003 with a pilot program for 15 women. Since then, Women in the Trades have conducted five classes for 45 women. In 2004 the U.S. Department of Labor gave AWP’s Women in the Trades their highest award, the EPIC for exemplary contributions to moving women into trade apprenticeships.

For more information about AWP’s Women in the Trades program, contact Kathy Dietrich
907-457-2597

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