Amber Czech’s Story Is a Wake-Up Call: Women in the Trades Deserve Safety, Respect, and Real Recourse

When news broke about the horrific killing of 20-year-old welder Amber Czech, women across the trades felt something crack open inside them. Her death wasn’t just a tragedy; it pulled back the curtain on a problem that has been quietly festering in male-dominated industries for decades.

It exposed something many women know all too well:

the subtle comments, the uncomfortable stares, the “jokes,” the dismissals, the fear of retaliation — the harassment that gets brushed aside, minimized, or normalized until it becomes part of the job.

But it should never be part of the job.

The Uncomfortable Truth

Women often keep silent because they fear losing their position, losing their apprenticeship, losing the respect they fought for, or being branded as “difficult.” Many who do report harassment through internal HR channels find themselves ignored, doubted, or told to “just avoid him.”

And while the full details surrounding Amber’s workplace experience are still unfolding, one thing is clear:

Users on social media have claimed Amber Czech raised concerns with HR multiple times; those allegations have not been confirmed by court records, the Wright County Attorney’s Office, or the victim’s employer.

That distinction matters; we cannot publish unverified claims as fact. But we can acknowledge something larger:

Her case is an extreme example of what women fear every day: that when disrespect and hostility are tolerated, the consequences can escalate.

We should not have to wait until tragedy strikes before we talk about women’s safety.

This Should Never Happen Again

Amber was a new welder with her whole life ahead of her, a young woman taking pride in her skills, just like so many of us did when we first stepped onto a shop floor, jobsite, or manufacturing plant.

Her sisters in the trades are grieving. They’re angry. And they’re waking up to a hard truth:

We need better systems — not just HR forms and hope.

Women deserve:

• Safe workplaces

• Zero-tolerance policies that are actually enforced

• Clear reporting channels that don’t begin and end inside their own company

• Protection from retaliation

• Respect as professionals, not exceptions

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If You Feel Uncomfortable at Work — You Are NOT Overreacting

Let me say this plainly:

If a coworker makes you feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or intimidated, you do not owe them silence.

It is never okay for a woman to feel uncomfortable around her coworkers. Not once. Not ever.

If your internal HR does not listen, or if you are scared to go to them, there are resources outside your company that you can contact. These resources exist to protect you, support you, and help you take action without putting yourself in further danger.

Below is a list of national organizations that ANY woman in ANY state can reach out to.

National Resources for Reporting Harassment, Violence, or Unsafe Work Environments

1. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

For workplace harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment cases.

• Website: www.eeoc.gov

• Phone: 1-800-669-4000

• How they help:

  • You can file a federal complaint

  • They can investigate employers

  • They protect whistleblowers and workers who fear retaliation

    
    

2. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

For unsafe, threatening, or dangerous workplace conditions — including violent or aggressive behavior.

• Website: www.osha.gov/workers/file-complaint

• Phone: 1-800-321-6742

• How they help:

  • You can report anonymously

  • They can inspect job sites

  • They enforce federal safety laws

    
    

3. National Women’s Law Center (NWLC)

For legal support related to harassment, discrimination, or retaliation.

• Website: nwlc.org

• They offer advocacy, legal information, and resources specifically for women facing workplace misconduct.

4. RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)

For sexual assault, threats, or extreme harassment.

• Website: www.rainn.org

• Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

• Provides trauma support, crisis intervention, and help navigating reporting options.

5. Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund

For women seeking legal assistance after workplace sexual harassment or assault.

• Website: nwlc.org/times-up-legal-defense-fund

• Connects workers with attorneys who handle harassment and retaliation cases.

What Women Can Do Right Now

Even though every situation is different, these steps can help protect you:

• Document everything — dates, times, screenshots, incidents, witnesses.

• Tell someone you trust — a coworker, friend, or mentor.

• Use outside reporting channels if HR fails you — you don’t need your employer’s permission to protect yourself.

• Trust your instincts — discomfort is a warning sign, not an overreaction.

• Know you deserve safety — not when things get bad. Right now. Today.

  
  

Amber Czech's Legacy

Amber’s story should not be reduced to headlines. Her life mattered. Her work mattered. Her future mattered.

And while we can’t change what happened to her, we can change what happens next for other women.

We can talk about it. We can demand safer companies. We can call out disrespect in all its forms. We can refuse to stay silent — for ourselves and for each other.

Amber’s sisters in the trades will carry her memory forward by fighting for something better.

And we’ll keep fighting until every woman on every jobsite knows this truth:

You deserve to be safe.

You deserve respect.

You deserve a workplace that values your life as much as your labor.