Continuing our Best of 2024 series, we flash back to June 28 with Mandy Jo Ganieany, the Organizing Director for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 30, who joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her experience as a woman in the trades, why she became an organizer and recruiting more women into the trades.
IUPAT DC 30 covers North Central Illinois and three counties in Wisconsin.
As the first female Director of Organizing in DC 30's history, Ganieany has faced unique challenges. She emphasized that while gender barriers still exist, her union has made significant strides in promoting diversity and inclusion. Ganieany believes her appointment to this role reflects a broader shift in the trades toward recognizing and elevating diverse talent.
One successful initiative Ganieany highlighted was the "Tradewomen Takeover Springfield" event, which brought together female trade workers, legislators and contractors. This event served as both a recruitment drive and an opportunity to advocate for policies supporting women in the trades.
Ganieany's insights reveal the trades' ongoing evolution towards greater inclusivity and the critical role unions play in driving this change. Her personal journey from a non-union worker to a union leader underscores the transformative power organized labor plays in improving workers' lives and communities.
You can learn more about Ganieany and her role with IUPAT DC 30 by listening to the show above.