Five Minutes With Solidarity’s Three New Leadership Collective
IBEW 11’s Solidarity Committee’s mission is to elevate the moral, intellectual, and social conditions by emancipating all people from gender-based inequity in the electrical industry and beyond.
The Committee just elected three new members to its hierarchy-free Leadership Collective: Tristen Bonilla, Tywanna “Ty” Washington, and Victoria Hernandez.
News@11 caught up with the newly elected three to ask them why they ran, what they hope to accomplish, and to share their vision for the role women can play in shaping IBEW’s future.
Tristen Bonilla
4th year apprentice
Q: Why did you run to become a member of the Solidarity Committee’s Leadership Collective?
A: The first time I saw people running (for the Leadership Collective), it was really inspiring. I’m not usually that vocal, but I feel like I have been getting better at using my voice, and I just wanted to try and set the same example those girls set for me for other girls in the future.
Q: Now that you’ve been elected to this new position what do you hope to accomplish?
A: I definitely want to bring more women into the union and let them know they’re not the only women out there, and that there are quite a few more women coming up as well.
Q: What advice would you give to a woman deciding whether to pursue a career at IBEW?
A: I would definitely tell them to go for it. I wish I did it much sooner. And then once they do go for it to definitely not be scared and to use their voice. I’m hopeful about the future. There are more and more women joining the union every year.
It’s empowering.
Ty Washington
5th year apprentice
Q: Why did you run to become a member of the Solidarity Committee’s Leadership Collective?
A: I decided to run because I believe in being involved in my union and helping other Sisters in the union and doing my part to empower them to find their voice.
Q: Now that you’ve been elected to this new position what do you hope to accomplish?
A: I want to find new members and build our membership numbers up. I just told myself I wanted to get more involved in the union, and this is one way I can do that and give back.
Q: What advice would you give to a woman deciding whether to pursue a career at IBEW?
A: My advice would be don’t doubt yourself, don’t let anybody else put doubt in your mind. If you have something you want to do you go for it no matter what and believe in yourself. I’m very hopeful for the future of women in
the trades.
Victoria Hernandez
2nd year apprentice
Q: Why did you run to become a member of the Solidarity Committee’s Leadership Collective?
A: From the moment I connected with the Solidarity leadership they took me under their wing. They showed me how to volunteer, showed me what a union is about. I just decided I needed to start giving back – get more involved. The union is this amazing thing, and I think I can help people know more about what the union can do for themselves and for others.
Q: Now that you’ve been elected to this new position what do you hope to accomplish?
A: Just get the news out about Solidarity to the whole Local so they can support us and be a part of it. A lot of people think it’s just a women’s group but, honestly, it’s just women supporting. Males can join, females can join, non-binary people can join. I want people to know that if they support women they can refer them to our group. Being the only woman on a job is very hard, or women struggling in the union is very hard. I want them to know they have a support group they can lean on and learn from.
Q: What advice would you give to a woman deciding whether to pursue a career at IBEW?
A: The advice I would give another female is that while you might feel like you’re the only female on the job site, you are a part of something much bigger than the job site. You’re in a collective of a union, and we are a part of that union who are here to support you, to mentor you, to guide you, to friend you. And, know that you are not alone. There are so many women in this union ready to help them.
