MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: WOMEN OF 534

At Local 534, we are proud to create opportunities for women and celebrate their many contributions to our union. Learn more about your union sisters who are working hard and shaping our future.

Victoria Saar

Just over six years ago, Victoria was working as a hairdresser but wanted a more fulfilling job. After a lot of research, she applied to be an apprentice with Local 534. She didn't have any experience in the field but knew that a union offered better benefits and a better future.

"Ever since I joined, it's opened up so many possibilities," Victoria said. She is now a journeyperson and was recently named a trustee on two different funds. She has gone on several trips as a member of Local 534, from connecting with her fellow tradeswomen at a conference in Las Vegas to going to the union's international headquarters in Maryland for officer training.

"No other job would give you those opportunities starting with no experience," she said. "You can come from any background, and the union will teach you. They'll put time into you if you put time into the trade." Victoria is proud to help build Boston, adding, "It's great to drive around the city and see your work."

Shakina Bozeman

Shakina worked in childcare for several years but felt it wasn’t for her. She had helped her sister with a cleaning company and met a lot of tradespeople through that work. So when she decided it was time for a change in career, she applied to Local 534 and is now a first-year apprentice.

“I’ve always been a crafty person and I love building things,” Shakina said. She is currently doing fireproofing and working on job sites like the new Amazon offices. Shakina credits the union for embracing and uplifting women in the field. “They really want to see you succeed and make sure you’re on the right path,” she said.

Shakina is also the mother of a 3-year-old daughter, and being part of a union has provided more financial stability for her and her family. “I feel like I don’t have to worry about being out of work,” she explained.

Shione Murray

A second-year apprentice, Shione joined Local 534 through Building Pathways — a Boston non-profit that is dedicated to recruiting under-represented groups in the building trades, particularly women and people of color. When she finished Building Pathways, Shione got two pieces of good news: she was accepted into Local 534... and she was pregnant! She didn’t let that hold her back. As the mother of two young children, she’s thrilled to be earning family-sustaining wages and benefits. “This is a career, not a job,” she said.

Shione started her work with Local 534 doing fireproofing, and she picked it up so quickly that she was soon trusted to do work on her own. As an apprentice, she said it’s “great to be learning on the job instead of sitting in a class.” She is looking forward to becoming a journeyperson and is alway reaching out to other women to encourage them to join her in the field.

Janelle Leone

The daughter of a carpenter, Janelle went to hair school with another Local 534 sister, Victoria. When Victoria made the leap from hairdresser to Plasterer, Janelle reached out to see how it was going. She wanted to do work where she felt more like herself so she decided to join the union, where she has been a member for over 5 years.

“Being part of the union has definitely changed my life a lot,” Janelle said. “I’ve gained a lot of close friends I consider family now. The union is one big family.” She takes deep pride in proving herself as a woman working alongside men, and has enjoyed meeting thousands of other tradeswomen at conferences around the country.

Janelle has also won recognition for her work. In January, she was named Tradeswoman Hero by North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU). This monthly award recognizes four tradeswomen across the U.S. and Canada who lead by example and perform their duties at an outstanding level.