Union Carpenters and Contractors Foster Inclusion and Opportunity for New Yorkers

Union Carpenters and Contractors not only build the city’s infrastructure but also open doors of opportunity for individuals seeking rewarding careers in the construction industry and create pathways to affordability in New York. In the interview below, union carpenter, Simbiat, shares her journey in unionized construction. 

1. Can you tell us about yourself?

My name is Simbiat Adanlawo. I am from Nigeria, and I live in the Bronx. I am a 3rd year apprentice and a member of Local Union 157. 

1. Tell us about your journey to becoming a union carpenter.

I discovered the opportunity of trade work in my last year of college. At the time, I already knew I needed a career, a job that was both meaningful and beneficial to my present, as well as an investment for my future. This was how I discovered NEW (Non-Traditional Employment for Women). One of my uncles who inadvertently inspired me to become a carpenter, is also a carpenter. In primary school, my favorite activity after school was going to his shop and watching him and his apprentice’s work. He made custom furniture and was one of the best at the craft. Though it has been years since I’ve had the pleasure of watching him work, the fond memory remains, and I was reminded of it when I started my pre-apprenticeship with NEW. Although I come from a family of trade workers, as a female I was not encouraged to pursue a career in the trades, so I never considered it.

However, upon discovering NEW and seeing their alumni of capable ladies excelling in trades work, I was further inspired to pursue a career in trade, particularly, as a Carpenter.

1. How do union carpenters and contractors prioritize safety and skills training?

Union carpenters and contractors prioritize safety by ensuring we are prepared and equipped to go to job sites armed with the knowledge and intention to work safely. Safety is paramount—the union makes sure we have all the necessary certifications we need before we are allowed on a job site. They also instill diligent and safe working habits into us when we attend our mandatory training sessions throughout our apprenticeships.

1. Have you seen union carpenters and contractors invest in diversity? As an African American, female, and practicing Muslim, I came into the union steeling myself to feel like an outsider before I could prove myself, but I have been well received. My religious beliefs and cultural background have not been a hindrance, and I have met plenty of people who are like myself, and others who are not like me but share the same morals and values within the trade.

1. How has the union impacted your life? How has access to benefits and healthcare impacted you?

Having a remarkable benefit plan and healthcare gives me peace of mind.

1. What is the value of mentorship and community within the union?

The union, as the name suggests, is a tight-knit community. Focusing on the best parts, the mentorship program has been the single most influential aspect of my union life. The mentorship has helped to bring me out of my shell. I have a wonderful mentor in Denise Echevarria and along the way, I have been blessed with the guidance of other people in the carpenters’ union.

Also, as carpenters, our time together at job sites can be very brief. However, some of the best moments I have seen have been when carpenters who once worked on a project together years prior meet at another job or a union event. It warms my heart to see the camaraderie between the brothers and sisters alike. The sense of community is palpable between carpenters on any given job site.

1. Why would you encourage others to join the union? What piece of advice would you give them?

I always encourage others who are looking to join the union to join. There is a misconception about trades work being messy and hard, and yes, this is true–the work requires physical and mental dexterity. However, anything worth doing takes effort. It may be awkward and uncomfortable at first, but you soon find your strength. You find that you are made of the best stuff and your attitude, how you carry yourself, and the mental space you put yourself in when you wake up early in the morning to get ready for the day really matters.

1. What kind of projects have you/do you hope to work on to build the future of our city? In the last 3 years, I have worked on projects owned by big corporations: Facebook, Amazon, and Disney, just to name a few each one interesting and challenging their way. Most recently, I am at a project very dear to me, we are restoring the Fort Washington Library, a library that was built in 1914!

Being a part of the revitalization of such a historic library brings me such joy. Ascarpenters, most of the jobs we work, however long or fleeting, don’t alwayshave access to return to the jobs as guests. We can only pass by outsideand reminisce that we were there. However, the library is a public space. I can,as a resident of this city, walk into the building and behold what has become ofwhat I helped build. With the assistance of a seasoned journeyperson, I canbehold the walls I put up from laying them out to putting the framing in, sheet rocking and screwing off. Whether I see the end of the project or not, I canalways go back when it opens and say, “I did that” and see others enjoy the laborthat went into making the space what it is.

1. Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?

In five to 10 years, I see myself having honed my skills as a union carpenter, andwith many more interesting projects under my belt.

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