May 2003

The Changing Face of the Industry

Tilcon New York taps into a growing segment of workers in the aggregates industry — women.

By Joyce Watson

Women such as Tilcon’s Lillian Vergara, left, are filling an increasing number of jobs in the aggregates industry.

Finding good employees is a challenge facing aggregate producers throughout the United States. In the northeast portion of the country, however, one company is tapping into a growing segment of the applicant pool — women. And conversely, women are finding that the construction industry offers a variety of benefits not available in many other industries, including the ability to earn wages 26 percent higher than the average worker.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women made up only 4 percent of the work force in both sand and gravel and crushed stone operations in 1970. By 1980 the percentage doubled, and it hit 11 percent in 2000. The latest Bureau of Labor data show a total of 9,131,000 men employed in the mining and construction industries as compared to 1,017,000 women.
“Tilcon is committed to hiring women for non-traditional positions, but finding women that want to work as laborers, welders, and pavers is difficult,” says Anne Poltorak, human resources manager. “Meeting federal equal employment opportunity quotas for females remains a challenge.”
One of the reasons for this shortage of female workers in the northeast market may be the higher level of training and education, which means greater expectations and broader opportunities. Lack of acceptance of female work crew members has been an obstacle for some women, and many women simply do not like the physically demanding, potentially dangerous work.
“Women bring different perspectives, values, and qualities to the job. They have proven that they work safely, are detail-oriented and work hard to earn the respect of their male colleagues, day in and day out. I wish we could get more women interested in these kinds of jobs,” concludes Poltorak.

A diverse workforce
Although still relatively small numbers of women work in this industry, their presence is increasingly being felt at Tilcon New York, Inc. Women working at Tilcon say that they have pursued careers in the construction industry for many of the same reasons as men: a generous salary, the ability to work outdoors, and family members already active in the industry.
For example, Lisa Banghart, who has been driving a haul truck at Mt. Hope since 1994, found out about the job opening from her friend, Mike Rosa, a Tilcon-Mt. Hope water truck driver. She applied for the job and within a week she was working.
Banghart credits fellow employee Charlie Dabb, Mt. Hope Operations, for the excellent instruction she received on haul truck operation. She trained on an 85-ton truck and drove that for four years before switching to a 60-ton. Her duties include maintaining the stock and mill piles.
“I am not a desk job type of person,” says Banghart. “I’m the jeans, t-shirt, and sneaker type, and I wanted something different.”
For Banghart, the job was one that changed her life: she met her husband, Fred (also a haul truck driver) at Mt. Hope.
Banghart’s supervisor, Blaine Blystone, describes her as “a very hard worker…she completes her job efficiently and safely. She is an asset to our company.” Likewise Banghart says that she feels Tilcon is a great company to work for and has seen many positive changes in the past two years.
She is especially proud of the fact that she proved the initial doubters — who said she wouldn’t last two weeks — wrong. Eight years later, she says she still loves her job.
Now Banghart trains other new employees to drive haul trucks, including Lillian Vergara, who drives an 85-ton haul truck at Tilcon’s Mt. Hope facility on the day shift.
Vergara, a petite woman, says that driving the large haul truck is just like driving a big car with amenities such as air conditioning and an AM/FM radio.
Before coming to Mt. Hope, Vergara was employed at various supermarkets, retail stores, and factories. She wanted to do something different, and the money and the opportunity to work outdoors appealed to her. Vergara primarily works at the face in the quarry. She enjoys her work and likes her co-workers.
In addition to haul truck drivers, Tilcon employs women as traffic control site coordinators and roller operators, among other careers.
Judy Korp, a traffic site coordinator, says that she has experienced little negativity over the years from male crew members and says that she has always been able to overcome any doubts by working hard, displaying confidence, and encouraging teamwork, which eventually earns her the respect of the men. Korp says she tells the guys: “I’m here for the same reason you are…a hard day’s work for a good day’s pay.”
Robi Freeland joined Tilcon after her husband had worked for the company for 25 years. After three years as a laborer, she trained as a roller operator.
“Today, she is one of our better roller operators,” says Dave Van Hof, paving superintendent.
Like Freeland, Geisler followed family into the business. In her case, however, it was against the wishes of her father who wanted her to pursue other career options.
Geisler received her training through the union’s apprentice program center and spent six weeks learning the equipment. She received 1,000 on-the-job training hours in the operation of loaders, dozers, backhoes, and asphalt rollers.
For the last six years, Geisler has focused on operating the asphalt roller. “I love what I do and I am good at it,” says Geisler. In fact, the training center often refers people to her for training on the roller.
“My 35 years of experience have shown an increase in the number of women in the construction business,” says Clarence Smith, lead operating engineer for Tilcon. “The women are doing just as well as the men and are conscientious and always willing to lend a helping hand.”

Joyce Watson is public relations director for Tilcon New York Inc.