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Patty Golicki didn’t begin her career in union carpentry. Her journey included work as a secretary, bank teller, factory worker, and lunch cook in a restaurant. As she said, “traditional women’s jobs, but not career-oriented.”

But nineteen years ago, she became a union carpenter, and she recently became an instructor at the Syracuse, New York, training facility run by the North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund.

One of the factors of a career in carpentry that drew Golicki to the union was knowing she would earn wages equal to her male counterparts. “I knew I had a good work ethic and was capable of doing physical work and learning the trade, but I felt in the private sector, at the time, there weren’t a lot of women doing any kind of construction, so I felt I would have more opportunity to advance in the Union,” she shared.

In addition to gaining more financial independence, she reflected on other union benefits. One is her boost in confidence as it relates to her own abilities. “With all the work experience and different personalities I’ve encountered over the years, I feel it’s made me a more well-rounded mother and person in general,” Patty says.

To anyone considering their future, Patty emphasizes the opportunities available as a union carpenter, including continued education and growth in your career, even after completing the apprenticeship program. Her advice to those just starting out – “It seems like a long path to get established and learn all the skills you need, but if you’re willing to put in the hard work and effort, you have a lot of resources through the Union to help you keep learning along the way.”