What's it like to be a woman in the construction trades?   Johnanna Brenner talks with an electrician and a steam fitter about about the challenges facing women trying to break into and stay in the construction trades. They discuss how women support each other to meet those challenges,  about efforts to make unions more democratic, inclusive, and activist, and why that is important to women and people of color working in the trades. 

All three -- Amy Sprengelmeyer, Lisa Serrano and Johanna herself -- are members of Portland Cross Trade Solidarity which is holding a fund raiser this Saturday, March 13 at the Musician's Hall.   It's purpose  is to help send a delegation of building trades workers to the Labor Notes Conference in Detroit.  For more information, you can email  crosstradesolidaritypdx@gmail.com or phone 503-234-2306.  Portland Cross Trade Solidarity is also on Facebook.