Hi, my name is Glenda. I’m a union carpenter, a single mother, and a proud tradeswoman who did everything the “right” way — and it has cost my family and two coworkers everything.

For months, I tried to handle this quietly, professionally, and through proper channels. I documented everything. I followed procedures. I trusted the system that tells workers to speak up when something isn’t safe.

That decision has led my children, an elderly father, and a dying grandmother into a crisis none of us deserved.

Who I Am

I’m a single mom in Oklahoma with no family here to help financially. I spent 10 years as a stay-at-home mom, then entered the trades with pride after my children’s father fell into addiction and became incarcerated. Joining the union felt like stepping into my purpose — stability, dignity, and a future for my kids.

I loved the work. I thrived. I was paying bills monthly, earning certifications, attending apprenticeship classes, and building a real career.

Then everything changed.

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What Happened (Early October)

In early October, a coworker and I reported a hostile and unsafe work environment at a major construction jobsite. These were good-faith safety and harassment reports, made exactly the way workers are told to do it.

After those reports, retaliation began.

• One coworker was physically assaulted at work after reporting.

• I experienced ongoing stalking, harassment, and intimidation on the jobsite.

• The environment escalated instead of being made safer.

After reporting, one of the individuals involved contacted me directly and indicated they knew what had been said about them — creating serious safety and confidentiality concerns.

Because of the assault and escalation, I requested written return-to-work instructions and a safety plan before returning. Those protections were never provided.

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October 14 – Forced Unpaid Leave

On or around October 14, three of us were suddenly placed on unpaid leave. Communication channels were restricted. We were left with:

• No written safety plan

• No clear return-to-work timeline

• No income

• No back pay

• No clear employment status

We were left in limbo.

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How This Has Impacted Real People

Me — a single mother

The financial damage has been devastating.

• I was forced into a mortgage hardship program just to keep a roof over my kids’ heads — permanently changing my loan.

• Utilities, food, car costs, and basic necessities collapsed all at once.

• My children have had to rely on school food support, including frozen meals quietly placed in their backpacks to avoid embarrassment.

• Because of delayed wage reporting and unclear employment status, I’ve been blocked from unemployment and other basic assistance.

It’s Christmas, and instead of excitement about Santa, my kids see fear — wondering if we’ll have lights, heat, or food.

Coworker #1 — assault & mental-health crisis

After reporting, my coworker experienced severe hostility that contributed to a serious mental-health crisis and self-harm, followed by a physical assault at work.

Instead of support, he was removed from work and placed in limbo — unable to work, unable to access unemployment, and facing mounting medical and dental needs while caring for his elderly father.

Coworker #2 — caring for a grandmother with cancer

The third coworker was also removed from work while caring for a grandmother with progressive cancer — this may be her last Christmas. He has had to borrow money from the very person he’s caring for just to survive.

This isn’t “workplace drama.” These are real families being broken.

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Why We’re Asking for Help

We sought help internally. We asked for guidance, representation, and emergency relief. We were told there was no hardship funding available and no immediate support — even with children, elders, and medical crises involved.

I want to be clear: this is not an attack on all unions or all regions. I have spoken with leaders from other regions — including California — where situations like this would result in immediate action. What we are facing is a regional failure, not a failure of working people.

Federal and legal processes take time — but families cannot survive months with zero income.

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What Your Support Will Do

Funds raised will help cover:

• Housing and utilities

• Food and basic necessities

• Medical and dental care

• Transportation

• Survival expenses while legal and federal processes move forward

This support is about keeping families housed, fed, and safe.

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How You Can Help

• Donate if you are able

• Share this campaign

• Connect us with legal, labor, or advocacy resources

I didn’t want to ask for help like this. But silence has cost too much already — and my children should not pay the price for doing the right thing.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. And thank you for standing with workers who spoke up.