Leading the Authority

Teamster Trades in ‘High Heels for Work Boots’

Doris Welch knows a thing or two. She impressively knows about plumbing, electrical work, steam and heat pressure and anything to do with the maintenance of low pressure boilers.

In her career with the New York City Housing Authority, Welch went in and out of countless basements and apartments in housing developments to do a hands-on job that few women knew about, and that few women or men knew how to do. She was careful with safety, adept at technical issues and fearless in new environments and situations.

Welch started out as a secretary with the Housing Authority in 1972 and seized the opportunity to take training classes offered by the Authority, in conjunction with Teamsters Local 237.

“There were all of maybe three women in the training and I was one of them. Now we have so many women in nontraditional titles that it’s not unusual,” Welch said. “I was getting ready to take off my high heels and put on some work boots.”

As a heating plant technician, Welch continued to take classes and work hard. She earned the respect of her co-workers, male and female alike, and was promoted numerous times throughout her career. Eventually, Welch took off the work boots and put high heels back on, becoming the Authority’s second woman superintendent in 1992.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling
The road to success was not always paved smoothly for Welch. She grew up in a union family, and as a young woman, went to school to become a dental assistant. She did that job for almost three years, but wasn’t fulfilled.

“The dentist looked at me one day and said, ‘You don’t look happy’, and I had to agree with him. A little boy bit my fingers off, and I decided that was it, which took me to the Housing Authority,” Welch said. “Life is too short in terms of where you want to be and go to stay in a job where you’re not happy.”

Welch was happy for nearly 30 years at the Housing Authority, having had the opportunity to learn and grow in her job through the support of her local. In 1984, she and some friends even started an organization in the Housing Authority called the Non-Traditional Women of Today Association, a support organization for women in nontraditional jobs. Now, ten years into her retirement, she remains active in her community and her union.

“Our retirees group is 8,000 strong now and there are many females. We don’t have to stay at home and watch TV. There is a life after your career is over and the women have come together,” Welch said.

Through her local, Welch learned of the various community organizations with which she is currently involved. She is active on the board of the Alliance for Retired Americans and has traveled to speak to Teamster women at various conferences and events.

“It’s just uplifting to meet all the Teamster women year-round. It’s important that it’s not just once a year in March that everyone says, ‘Ok, fine, we’re going to recognize women.’ Women should be recognized throughout the year,” Welch said.

Welch believes that women have come far, and she stands as a testament to that. Throughout her career, Welch had mentors, many of whom were men. But she did notice inequities along the way, like an absence of locker rooms for women to change in. She also recalls going to buy her first pair of work boots with her father. The salesman assumed the boots were for him.  

“Today, I look at the glass ceiling and see that things have gotten better, but not good enough,” Welch said. “I have faith that the all-boys club will grow and it will become ‘our club’, like husband and wife, we’ll all become a partnership.”

Welch gives credit to her local union for its appreciation and recognition of its members, including women and retirees. She also acknowledges the International Union for its role in promoting the interests of women.

“One of the things I feel very proud of is our Teamster women’s history,” Welch said. “We have not, and should not, overlook the role that women have played in our Teamster history, because we have done, and continue to do, so much.