Author: Kyle Friend

In commemoration of the thirty-fifth anniversary of the first women being hired as New York City firefighters, NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives (home of the collections of Brenda Berkman and the United Women Firefighters) in cooperation with the New York Labor History Association and LaborArts, will hold a roundtable discussion on programs that have helped women enter the historically male-dominated skilled trades and uniformed forces.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Jane LaTour, author of Sisters in the Brotherhoods: Working Women Organizing for Equality in New York City. Participants include: Stagehand and Local One Trustee Eileen Macdonald discussing forming women’s committees within IATSE; Electrician and Shop Steward Erin Sullivan talking about the mentoring program within Local 3 IBEW; Plumber Judaline Cassidy describing the plumbers’ women’s committee, mentoring new sisters, and founding the nonprofit Tools & Tiaras; and Firefighter and President of the United Women Firefighters Sarinya Srisakul relating the UWF programs for women firefighter candidates and trainees. There will be an opportunity for questions from the audience.

An exhibit of documents and artifacts from the Brenda Berkman archives (FDNY Capt. [ret.] and plaintiff in the sex discrimination lawsuit that resulted in the hiring of the FDNY’s first women firefighters) and United Women Firefighters collection along with a video history of the FDNY women firefighters will be on display. A ceremony honoring the first group of FDNY women firefighters will take place immediately preceding the panel and a reception will follow the program.

Please RSVP taimiment.events@nyu.edu or call 212-998-2635.