Bea Thompson’s journey from chemistry to the building trades

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Bea Thompson

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Bea Thompson, Business Representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to speak about her career trajectory, having earned two degrees, but ultimately finding a home with a Chicago IBEW Local Union.

With a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Chicago State University and an associate degree in nursing, Thompson's initial career path seemed far removed from the trades. However, her journey took a turn when she unsuccessfully attempted to become a Chicago firefighter and was then contacted by members of the Chicago Women in Trades, who introduced her to the IBEW.

Thompson discussed the challenges she faced during her apprenticeship, particularly the physical and mental demands. Her advice to aspiring tradespeople is to persevere through the initial hurdles.

She also highlighted the importance of community outreach as a tool to help diversify the building trades, and working to increase the representation of minorities in the union. Today, Thompson plays a role in her Local Union’s community outreach and apprenticeship programs, advocating for diversity and inclusion within the union.

Her experience as a journeyman electrician working on a project at the Cook County Jail further fueled her commitment to social justice and community engagement. Witnessing racial imbalances firsthand, she became a vocal advocate for change, striving to alter the narrative for underrepresented communities through the power of the trades.

Listen to the full episode to hear about Thompson’s transition into the IBEW and her work to create a more diverse and inclusive industry.

America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

Bea Thompson’s journey from chemistry to the building trades

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