After the Nov. 11 slaying of 20-year-old Minnesota welder Amber Czech by a fellow employee at her equipment and systems design and manufacturing factory, the National Association of Women in Construction and construction unions called for industry support and increased protections for women in key construction jobs.
CBS News reported that Czech he was beaten to death by her male co-worker, identified as David Delong, 40, at Advanced Process Technologies manufacturing facility in Cokato, Minnesota, specializing in services to the food and dairy industry.
according to locals points of salepolice were called to the facility around 6 a.m. in response to reports of a woman suffering from significant head trauma and blood loss. First responders have spoken He was pronounced dead at the scene, CBS News said.
Delong, who was caught on surveillance video picking up a hammer and walking toward Czech, was arrested and charged with “second-degree intentional homicide” in Wright County. He allegedly told police he had been planning to kill the Czech for “some time,” according to a criminal complaint filed by County Attorney Brian Lutes, alleging that the Czech had “given him a bad face and he was upset about it.”
Delong faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted. It’s unclear what his role was at the manufacturing facility, which issued a stop-work order for the rest of last week.
“We are heartbroken by yesterday’s tragedy and our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends at this terrible time,” he said. Advanced process technologies in one statement. “We are also making sure our employees have the support they need and are working closely with law enforcement as they continue their investigation.”
According to NAWIC, Checa had just completed a 10-month non-union welding program last spring and was looking forward to building a career in the trades, a memorial GoFundMe site describing her as a “welder who took great pride” in her craft.
“He has worked, trained hard and entered the trades with hope and determination,” NAWIC-Metro Denver board member Sarah Kotzen wrote in a LinkedIn post about the news of Czech’s attack on the social media platform. She added: “[Czech] deserved security She deserved a future. He deserved to go home and he didn’t.”
In a statement, NAWIC President Rita Brown said: “We must face the truth that too many women in the trades have suffered hostility, intimidation, harassment and threats in workplaces where the warning signs were visible, but not addressed.” He added that “this tragedy is not an anomaly. It is part of a disturbing pattern that we, as an industry, can no longer deny and will no longer tolerate.”
Construction Unions of North America issued a statement in solidarity, condemning violence and bullying in the workplace.
“Although Amber was not a member of NABTU, her loss was deeply felt in our trade union community and throughout the construction industry,” the group wrote. “Violence has no place in our workplaces. NABTU unequivocally condemns this horrific act and reaffirms our commitment to creating safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces.”
ENR has reached out to NAWIC to learn more about what other steps the group can take.
