Cathy Mulroy was born in Sudbury into a working class mining family; the daughter of a miner. Cathy was married at the age of 16 and by 19, she was one of the first women hired back into mining giant Inco. She was one of the first women to work there in a non-traditional job since World War II. She continued to work there for 30 years.  

Debbie Field also sought work in a non-traditional sphere. At the suggestion of one of the union leaders, Debbie and four others applied for jobs in the smelting area of the steel giant, Stelco. Debbie was one of the founding members of the Women Back into Stelco Campaign.  

In this interview, both Cathy and Debbie discuss their experiences working in these roles, in these companies, with their respective unions and the impact that this work had on each of their lives.

With Cathy Mulroy and Debbie Field

Interviewed by Susan Colley