Today's Rosie Philadelphia Works

Tureka (Tee) Dixon is a journey-level glazier (that’s someone who installs glass) with Local 252 in Philadelphia.  She got into the trades because of the pay and benefits and stayed for the satisfaction of the work.  Her kids are proud of their Mom. Tee received her Associates Degree and BA in Construction Management through her apprenticeship program at the Finishing Trades Institute where she was able to earn and learn tuition-free. To learn more about a starting a career as a glazier, visit www.fti.edu. To learn about other careers, visit the Women in Nontraditional Careers (WINC) website at Wincproject.org.

In this episode of Today’s Rosie we hear from Kelly Ireland, a 4th generation commercial plumber with Local 690 in Philadelphia.
Kelly shares her path to becoming a plumber and what she loves about her work. She describes how she has overcome challenges and found advantages to being a woman in the trades. Kelly offers advice that women should look to unions to earn equal pay, find mentors and connect with union sisters. To learn more about careers in the trades, visit Wincproject.org or email wincproject@philaworks.org.

In this episode of Today’s Rosie we hear from two different generations of tradeswomen who work for SEPTA, Philadelphia’s regional transit agency.  Melody Wells has been at SEPTA for over 25 years and is now a 2nd class mechanic.  Margaret Cobb has been at SEPTA for only 3 years and is now a 2nd class construction equipment operator. They talk about being mothers, Black tradeswomen, what has changed for women in the trades, and what hasn’t.  To learn more, visit Wincproject.org or email wincproject@philaworks.org.

In this episode of Today’s Rosie we hear from Gwen Gibson and her two teenage sons about growing up in a family where Mom is a tradeswoman.  Gwen works as a 1st Class Rail Vehicle Equipment Maintainer for SEPTA, the Southeast Pennsylvania Transit Authority.

In this episode of Today’s Rosie we hear from two welders who have very different jobs, but both see themselves as artists and tradeswomen.  Jennell Thomas is a track maintainer and self-employed 4th generation welder.  Sam Toggas is a welding fabricator who first trained as an artist.   

 

In this episode of Today’s Rosie we hear from Reverend Elaine McGuire, a Journey level Electrician with IBEW Local 98.  She has over 20 years of experience, often being both the only woman and only Black woman on construction sites in the Philadelphia region.  She tells us what she loves about her trade, how she got started and some of the challenges when you are an “only” on a job site and in the union. To learn more, visit Wincproject.org or email wincproject@philaworks.org