IBEW Local 8 Women’s Committee

01/21/2026

January is National Stalking Awareness Month

In the construction trades—and especially for women—safety doesn’t end when the jobsite shuts down.

📊 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men will experience stalking in their lifetime.
Stalking is not “harmless” or “just uncomfortable”—it is a serious and dangerous crime that can cause long-term emotional, physical, and financial harm.

Many people experience stalking in or connected to their workplace.
• 1 in 8 victims report missing work due to stress or harassment
• 17% have lost a job or job opportunities because of stalking

For women in the trades, this can mean fear showing up to work, fear commuting, fear being isolated on a site—and feeling like we have to carry it alone.

At the IBEW Local 8 Women’s Committee, we believe:
🔹 Safety is a labor issue
🔹 Awareness is protection
🔹 Sisterhood means we look out for each other—on and off the job

If you are a sister and are experiencing stalking, please know you do not have to go through it alone.
You can reach out to the IBEW Local 8 Women’s Committee privately, and we will help connect you to support, resources, and next steps—confidentially and without judgment.

If you or someone you know is dealing with stalking, help is available 24/7:

🔗 Learn more about stalking, warning signs, and safety planning:
https://www.stalkingawareness.org/fact-sheets-and-infographics/

🔗 Confidential 24/7 support via Victim Connect:
https://victimconnect.org/

You are not weak.
You are not overreacting.
You are not alone.

Know it. Name it. Stop it.
— IBEW Local 8 Women’s Committee ✊💙

01/19/2026

Honoring our history. Fighting for our future.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed that labor rights are civil rights — and that truth still stands today. As women in the labor movement, we honor the sacrifices made before us by continuing to show up, lead, and fight for fairness, respect, and opportunity for all.

We don’t just remember history — we build on it. 💪💜

01/18/2026

Women in the trades didn’t fight this hard to move backward.

Three bills introduced in Ohio — HB 510, HB 512, and HB 513 — put worker protections, fair pay, and safety standards on public job sites at risk. These policies don’t just impact unions; they affect families, job sites, and the quality of public projects paid for by taxpayers across our state.

Strong labor standards help ensure work is done safely, on time, and to a high standard — protecting workers and the communities that rely on that work, whether those workers are union or non-union.

🛠️ Stand with workers:
• Stay informed
• Speak up
• Take action

🔍 Find your Ohio State Representative & Senator:
https://findmydistrict.ohiosos.gov/

✉️ Send them an email directly:
https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/members

Use one of the sample messages in comments or share your own concerns about HB 510, HB 512, and HB 513.

Our voices matter. Let’s use them.

🔗 Source: North Shore AFL-CIO
👉 northshoreaflcio.org

01/17/2026

Federal Labor Enforcement Is Down in 2025 — So What Do We Do Now?

Enforcement activity by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division and OSHA has dropped sharply in 2025.

In the first nine months of the year, combined penalties totaled just $130 million a 66% decline compared to the average over the same period in the last 17 years. The number of enforcement cases also fell by more than half.

That’s not just a statistic.
That’s fewer inspections.
Less oversight.
And more room for unsafe shortcuts.

What this means for us in the trades:

When enforcement pulls back, accountability doesn’t disappear it shifts. Too often, it lands on the backs of workers.

Unsafe job sites are less likely to be caught early. Wage theft, misclassification, unpaid overtime, and safety violations become easier to hide. And the pressure to “just get it done” grows heavier, even when something feels off.

So what can we actually do?
• Watch out for each other and speak up when something’s unsafe
• Stop work if conditions put you or your crew at risk
• Document hazards, injuries, violations — photos, dates, witnesses
• Use the tools that still exist: anonymous OSHA complaints, union stewards, safety reps
• Strengthen union language around safety and regular site walk-throughs
• Protect yourself: know your workers’ comp rights and keep certifications current
• Stay connected — information shared is safety shared

Every safety rule on the books was written because someone got hurt or worse. Enforcement may dip, but our lives don’t become expendable.

This isn’t politics.
It’s survival. 🔧✊

Read more here:

https://goodjobsfirst.org/worker-protections-in-freefall-the-collapse-of-federal-labor-enforcement-under-the-second-trump-administration/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAPX6qVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe7Mu8aUvmibUkjsDJzKhQPT4heGOHuVIQ2IRw4pQ-MOpK6sTzs1vXFZfbQX8_aem_j7jb2H0qAbYnhbazPHyyqg

Worker Protections in Freefall: The Collapse of Federal Labor Enforcement under the Second Trump Administration - Good Jobs First

01/12/2026

Something meaningful is coming.

We are creating a Syd Memorial Challenge Coin to honor Sydney’s life, her fire, and her deep passion for helping others find their place in the union and the trades.

This coin isn’t just a keepsake. It’s a continuation of her work.

All proceeds will go toward a scholarship fund in Sydney’s name, dedicated to helping women enter the trades and continue the mission Syd lived for—lifting others up, opening doors, and standing for those who needed a chance.

Please keep an eye on this page for more details on ordering.
When the time comes, every coin will help carry Syd’s light forward—into the hands, hearts, and futures of women she would’ve fought for.

Forever shines bright. 💛

01/10/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BeZZGD5G4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

When Sydney Boisselle heard a homeless man had frozen to death on Thanksgiving weekend near downtown Toledo, she started a winter-clothing drive to help ...

01/09/2026

In Loving Memory of Sydney M. Boisselle 💛
July 23, 1999 – January 5, 2026

Syd was an IBEW sister, a fierce advocate, and a light that filled every space she entered. She was known for her fire, her loyalty, her compassion, and her unwavering heart for others. A pint-size powerhouse with a soul far bigger than words.

Sydney was more than a sister in the trade. She was a force.
A fighter for the underdog. A loyal friend. A woman whose fire, compassion, and courage left a mark on everyone she crossed paths with.

She showed up fully. For her work, her people, and the causes she believed in. Syd carried both grit and tenderness in equal measure, and her light was unmistakable.

We will continue to honor her by standing for the things she stood for: sisterhood, strength, and showing up for one another.

Lives on through the gift of life she gave as an organ donor.

If you feel led, you are welcome to share a memory, photo, or a few words in the comments.

Obituary and service details:
https://www.egglestonmeinert.com/obituaries/sydney-boisselle

Forever our sister.
Forever shining bright. ✨

View Sydney Boisselle's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

11/16/2025

Workplace violence is NOT “part of the job.”
It’s not normal.
iIt’s not acceptable.
We are DONE pretending it is.

Amber Czech deserved to go home.
Outi Hicks deserved to go home.
Every woman on every job site deserves to go home SAFE.

If you hear something, SPEAK UP.
If you see something, STEP IN.
Silence is complicity.
Action is protection.

We owe each other safety.
We owe our sisters justice.
We owe the next generation CHANGE.

07/21/2024

09/18/2023

On November 4th, 2023 Local #8’s Womens Committee will hold their 3rd Annual Chili Cook Off. 🎃

👻Pre-Sale Tickets: $10

👻General Admission: $15

Each addmision ticket will come with an entry into our mystery raffle. 😵‍💫

💥Trunk or Treat: 12:00-1:30 p.m.
💥Live Music: 1:00-5:00 p.m.
💥Winner Announced: 5:00 p.m.

Desserts and other Covered Dishes are welcomed!

For questions and registration please contact.

Liz Enright: 567-225-2744