Women sheet metal workers have raised that many of the industry’s training centers, jobsites, shops, union halls and other spaces do not have free menstrual products available onsite. BE4ALL has been raising awareness on this important issue and working to provide solutions.
Why is this important?
Menstrual products are essential hygiene items, and they are an important part of one’s health and wellbeing. Toilet paper and soap are provided free of charge in bathrooms for hygiene reasons, and menstrual products serve the same purpose.
If menstrual products are not readily available, it can cause anxiety and embarrassment for the individual, which can affect productivity. Few people have loose coins to buy products from machines (if those machines are even available). When period products are not available when needed, the worker may need to leave their workplaces to obtain menstrual products. By providing these products free of charge, workers are able to avoid disruption and return to work. Furthermore, the provision of menstrual products improves morale and promotes inclusiveness.
How has BE4ALL responded to these concerns?
BE4ALL, through the ITI, distributed hundreds of bathroom kits to JATCs across both of our countries in 2023. The bathroom kit consisted of 28 tampons, 12 pads, disposal bags, specs to fabricate a sheet metal product dispenser, a sticker to place on any fabricated dispenser and a box to hold these products that can be placed on a counter in the women’s and/or gender-neutral bathrooms.
SMACNA also developed a “how-to” guide for contractors to demonstrate how easy it would be to provide menstrual products – pads, tampons and, ideally, disposal bags – to their workers. There are several ways to meet this need on a jobsite. Supplies can easily be placed into any jobsite first aid kit. Another option is to create a separate kit by attaching magnets to a box, filling it with tampons and pads, and affixing the box to the inside of the gang box. For their shops, contractors may wish to fill a simple basket or box (one that is water resistant) with supplies and place them on the counter, a stool, shelf, within the bathroom stalls or in a custom-fabricated sheet metal dispenser that can be hung on a wall.
What can I do to make sure menstrual products are available on the job, at my training center or in other spaces?
If your job does not have free menstrual products available, you can approach your local union representative or supervisor on the jobsite and ask that they be made available. SMACNA’s “how-to” guide describes the different ways to meet this need on the jobsite or in a shop, and this guide can be shared with your union representative or employer.
We understand, however, that for many people, this can be an uncomfortable topic to discuss with your union or your employer. If that is the case, another option may be to consult with close colleagues, your women’s committee or diversity committee, or other trusted individuals and raise this issue together as a group.
If you are a union officer, training coordinator or contractor, we encourage you to double check your union halls, offices, jobsites, shops and training centers to ensure that your facilities have free access to menstrual products. It is easy and less expensive than you might think. Menstrual products are widely available for purchase at many retail stores, pharmacies and supermarkets, and they can also be ordered online and delivered right to you. A box of tampons and pads will generally cost under $20 total. It is also possible that your janitorial service may be able to refill supplies at a nominal cost. We also encourage you to fabricate a custom sheet metal product dispenser. These dispensers can be hung on the wall in the women’s and/or gender-neutral bathrooms.
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