Where are my Concrete Women at?!!!
I’m 48, female, and a union laborer in Northeast Ohio. I have been on a heavy highway concrete crew digging out sidewalk, curb, road, as well as taking a lot of gravel, etc for a few years. I have desperately wanted to learn how to Finish concrete for years. I”ve run over and helped rake so much concrete I instinctively know when that truck is getting low before it rattles. A few weeks ago I was forming sidewalk with this really religious dude who definitely did not want to spend the day with a woman not related or married to him. My boss gave my job to an apprentice with 2 weeks in the next day. Second I saw what happened, I started making phone calls. I left early to go talk to some folks. Had 3 jobs offered by the next day so, I asked to join the pour and Finish crew. They’re SO busy. No one says stupid shit to me. No one climbs up into the dump truck to shit in it. They just seem excited to have help they need. Like…. I didn’t know this existed in the Midwest! Please wish me luck. I’m trying very hard for this. To have such a skill and be female should not be special. It just shouldn’t be. Every day I’m shocked that it’s 2026 and someone has missed their green light staring at me working. Like … really?