Michelle Wayne, Treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 146 in Central Illinois, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her journey in the trades. She also discussed the perceptions of women in the trades and why she created her union’s Women’s Committee.
Wayne was drawn to the tools at a young age. She told the story of her first toolset that led her dad, an IBEW member, to teach her the proper way to use them. After trying to take a different career path, she found she was more drawn to the trades and was accepted to IBEW Local 146 in 1996. She explained that she was one of 12 women in the Local at the time, four of whom were in the apprenticeship program. As a female and college graduate Wayne said she didn’t fit in with the group. There were still a lot of negative stigmas around women in the trades, and she made it a point to prove herself by winning Apprentice of the Year in 2001.
Despite winning the award, Wayne said she still had to prove herself on the job. Once she was on the job, she was able to prove herself a good worker and that was truly when things changed, she said. Wayne explained how she was able to work with her father to help out around the Local and grow within the union.
It wasn’t until after Wayne had children that she wanted to do more with the Local. This was spurred on by a trip to the Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference. After returning home, she was driven to start a Women’s Committee at Local 146 and encourage more involvement from the women in her Local. Wayne explained how the Women’s Committee is helping the community one event at a time. The committee at Local 146 is now chartered by the IBEW International and with more resources, they continue to assist women in Local 146 to become the next generation of trailblazers in the union.
To hear more from Wayne about her journey through Local 146, please listen to the show above.