Thick Skin: Ep 12: Ironclad Ally

April is National Welding Month and Thick Skin is celebrating!Ever heard of a national, women’s iron working training program? In this episode I take a tour at the Bay Area’s Local 378 Iron workers HQ and talk with Jeff, a leader in the iron working field and advocate for women working in the trades, especially in iron working. We talk about Local 378’s all women iron working training program, maternity leave,and  the University of Iron. The program is open to women anywhere in the United States! Jeff says it’s time for women to receive the respect they deserve!Jeff also shares his stories about the joy of his career in iron working, the truth about reprimanding bad workplace behavior, the importance of creating a diverse workforce for the future, and the right for everyone to have access to a decent paying job. Jeff is 100% hopeful that the incoming generation of iron workers are making the trades a more welcoming place for women and in turn, all people.Also - Jeff recently retired- CONGRATULATIONS JEFF!! Thank you from THICK SKIN for the work you have done as an ally to all people in the iron working trade!Be sure to visit the the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge. It “is the only bridge in the United States named for a blue collar worker. It represents the men and women of all building and construction trades.”https://www.alzampabridge.com/Photo Sources: Iron Workers 378 and Alicia CrawfordFOR MORE INFO ABOUT Local 378's WOMEN’S PROGRAMhttps://www.universityofiron.org/womeninthetrade.htmlhttps://ironworkers378.org/Support the show