b'WORKPLACE DIVERSITYWere the start of the pipeline, but were seeing theres more involved to building a diverse workforce than recruiting efforts alone. Bridget QuinnBridget Quinnan analysis published by The Washington Postworkforce development coordinator BridgetLikeGauthier,Bachmansupportsthe in July 2021. Quinn. The same holds true for neighboringtraining. You may not be able to change a Foryears,constructioncontractorshaveOregon counties. persons way of thinking, he said, but you attempted to follow the law and head off law- The locals diversity success seems related tocan make it clear that their behaviour is not suitsinvolvingsimilarlyraciallymotivatedthe fact that for every apprentice recruited,acceptable. That goes a long way.incidents and cases of sexual harassment. Butpains are taken to retain them. NECA and IBEW members have also partici-those efforts have not prevented traumatizedIn my role as far as outreach activities andpated in Greendot training, which empowers apprentices from dropping out of programs. recruitment, Ive gotten more involved withworkers to report sexual harassment.Thathashappened,saidGarthBach- retention,saidQuinn,whoseesastrongWhile Rise Up! training is fairly new, work-man, business manager for IBEW 48. Thiscorrelationbetweenretentionandpositiveforce diversification in the Portland area was is despite the locals history of success withworkplaceculturethatsupportson-sitegoing on well before 2020.inclusion of minorities and women, startingtraininganddiscouragesracist,sexistor as early as World War II. discriminatory behaviors. The noose incident accelerated efforts, but Bachman recently worked with Tim Gauthier,Werethestartofthepipeline,butwereweweremakingstridesbeforethat,said secretary/executive manager of the Oregon- seeingtheresmoreinvolvedtobuild- Maurice Rahming, president and co-owner Columbia Chapter NECA, to establish aningadiverseworkforcethanrecruitingof ONeill Construction Group of Portland. extended pregnancy leave program aimed ateffortsalone,Quinnsaid.ContractorsRahming,whoisBlack,establishedhis retainingfemaleapprentices,journey-levelhave a responsibility to provide a safe andOregon-certifiedminority-businessenter-apprenticesandotherwomenemployedrespectful environment. prise,anelectricalandgeneralcontracting locally by the electrical industry. firm, with his wife, Ali ONeill.QuinnandIBEW48haveimplemented As a result of those and other efforts, IBEWanonymous surveys asking apprentices if theyRahmingisalsoamemberofNECAs 48 claims 17.42-per-cent female enrollmentfeel respected and supported. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force, in its apprenticeship program. The local alsoThe surveys include questions like, Whenestablished in December 2020. Their mission hasmadeimpressivestrideswithminorityyouve been corrected, do you feel the personistodevelopanawarenessandeducation enrollment, which is at 23 per cent. or supervisor was respectful or disrespectful?platform to foster a work environment within InformedbyguidelinesestablishedbytheQuinn said. This leads to a greater conversa- the electrical industry that supports unique OregonBureauofLaborandIndustries,tion about whats really happening. personal differences. Members strive to create IBEW 48 and its NECA partners regularlya long-term cultural shift on national and collaborateontrainingprogramdiversityQuinn, Bachman and Gauthier recently par- locallevels,whereeachpersoncanthrive goals and review annual progress. ticipated in Oregon Tradeswomens Rise Up!and be empowered to contribute to overall trainingaimedateliminatingcomplacencyindustry success.Results are aligning more closely with demo- and empowering workers with proper tools graphicsofMultnomahCountysminorityforsafelyreportingdemoralizingworkplaceContractorsintheColumbia-Portland population,whichincludesLatinos,Asianincidentstomanagement.Theirparticipa- region, Rahming said, are beginning to see Americans,PacificIslanders,NativeAmer- tion showed solidarity and was a response tothe benefits of diversity and thats crucial for icans and African Americans, said IBEW 48concerns laid bare by the noose incident. staying in business.Ontario Electrical Contractor19'