Female ironworkers in North America are set to receive six months of paid maternity leave — a benefit “virtually unheard of” in the building trades, according to a statement by the Iron Workers Union.
The six-month maternity leave is designed to be taken before delivery, and can be combined with six weeks of post-delivery leave — or eight weeks for Cesarean deliveries. “The challenges of physical work associated with the ironworking trade create unique health challenges that can jeopardize a pregnancy,” according to the statement.
The Iron Workers union has 130,000 members, only 2,100 of whom are women, Buzzfeed reports. “It’s about time we make our industry a level playing field for women and make diversity and inclusion a priority,” said Eric Dean, General President of the Iron Workers.
[H/T BuzzFeed]
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- How Far Trump Would Go
- Why Maternity Care Is Underpaid
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- Saving Seconds Is Better Than Hours
- Why Your Breakfast Should Start with a Vegetable
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Ryan Gosling
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Kate Samuelson at kate.samuelson@time.com