Cindy Brooks, a fourth-year apprentice with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local Union 237 in Peoria, Ill., joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her work with the union and what she is doing to ensure more women are able to succeed in the trades. She also discussed the support she received from her union Brothers and Sisters while battling cancer.
Women have been joining the trades at a higher rate than at any time in the past, and there are several reasons why. For Brooks, the reason why she entered the building trades was to care for her family. After checking on the potential of joining the trades, she found out she could make the move from her non-union job to begin the Local 237 apprenticeship program. Brooks explained her first experience on the job, the support she received as an apprentice and learning to love the job and her union Brothers and Sisters.
Brooks is active in her Local and the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council. She explained her efforts to get more women into the trades and how she further educated herself on the assistance available for women in the trades. Brooks spoke about the progress she has seen with Sisters in the Brotherhood throughout her time in the union. She has continued to advocate for the women in her union, including joining the Sisters Steering Committee at Local 237.
Finally, Brooks talked about her battle with breast cancer, which is now and remission, and the support she received from the Brotherhood. She added that it was not just her Carpenter Brothers and Sisters who helped take care of her through treatments, but all of the building trades in her area. If it was not for the union benefits Brooks earned, she said she and her family would not be in the good position they enjoy today. She added that whenever hard times come, she knows her union family will always be there to support her.
Listen to the show above to hear more about Brooks' thriving career opportunities with Carpenters Local 237.