Laborers Local 423 hosts first all-women Mobile Solar Class

Laborers Local 423 hosted the nation’s first all-women Mobile Solar Class in June. The class was made up of 12 female Laborers – three from Local 423 and nine from other LIUNA Locals.

The Ohio Laborers District Council held what is believed to be the nation’s first all-women Mobile Solar Class in June at the Laborers Local 423 Union Hall.

The class is designed to train tradeswomen to work in the flourishing solar panel installation industry. It is considered mobile because training equipment travels to the members instead of making the members drive to the Drexel J. Thrash Training Center in Westerville. 

The class was made up of 12 female Laborers – three from Local 423 and nine from other LIUNA Locals. It was offered to better prepare them for the flood of clean-energy projects that will soon begin around the state.

“As the need for solar increases, we need to get as many people trained as quickly and as easily as possible,” said Ralph E. Cole, Ohio Laborers District Council Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer. “That’s why we made the class mobile. We meet these people where they are, instead of them going to a training center.”

There are currently four operational solar fields in the state, 36 either under construction or in a pre-construction phase and 12 under review, according to the Ohio Power Siting Board. Within the Columbus/Central Ohio Building Construction Trades Council jurisdiction, there is one operational solar field, five are under construction, six in pre-construction and four solar field project sites under review. 

Solar projects create excellent work opportunities for LIUNA members. Those working on solar projects are guaranteed work in the same location for 1.5 to three years, according to Cole.

The need for skilled workers will increase as companies such as Google, Amazon, Facebook (Meta) and others continue to build in Central Ohio. These companies will increase their use of clean energy, including solar, in order to meet their net zero carbon emission goals. 

The nation’s first all-women Mobile Solar Class is designed to train tradeswomen to work in the flourishing solar panel installation industry.

The purpose of the all-woman class was to diversify the number of LIUNA members trained to complete solar projects.

“The solar industry is still pretty new, and we need diversity in the workforce to ensure we are getting the wide variety of skill sets – both men and women – to bring to the table,” Cole said. “We have the best health and welfare pension plans money can buy, and these workers deserve the middle-class lifestyle the solar industry can provide them.” 

Most of the female members that took the class were single mothers who wanted the benefits of steady work at one location, great pay and superb benefits, according to Cole.

Robert McCaskill, LIUNA Local 423 Business Manager, said the class will help his Local provide the manpower needed for upcoming solar projects.

“Madison, Fairfield and Lincoln County will all start to see clean energy coming their way, and the recent solar class ensures we’ll have well-educated workers on the job,” he said. “I’ve been a Business Manager for 25 years, and it’s a good feeling to know these future solar projects are not only helping out the environment but ensuring people stay employed and can take care of their families.”