Christina Bayaniyan

Organizer, Sheet Metal Workers Local 66

Enlighten Forum Presenter, “Creating Safe Spaces for Sisterhood, Mentorship, & Recognizing Allies”

Biography

Christina got her start in the trades in March 2015 through the Pre-Apprenticeship program ANEW. By July 2015 she started her apprenticeship in the Western Washington Sheet Metal JATC through which she worked with multiple large contractors interacting with various Brothers and Sisters from all crafts.

As an apprentice Christina took an active role in her union participating in SMART ARMY events such as the Bring-A- Meal program with Union Gospel Mission Hope Place. She ran that program for 2 years. Christina has been engaged in recruitment efforts within high schools and various different trade fairs as well.

After Christina completed her apprenticeship, she came on as a Local 66 Women's Committee mentor to help female apprentices coming behind her succeed in their trade. She then took a leadership role in the local 66 Women's Committee as the Co-chair. While in that position she helped build the language for the by-laws and structure for the Womens Committee.

In 2020 Christina took a leadership role in her Union as a staff Organizer with Local 66 Sheet Metal Workers where she gets to bring opportunities to people so they can have a better life with livable wages, full family benefits and safe working conditions.

Christina is on the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Diversity Committee and she is a Local 66 delegate to the Seattle Building Trades.

Christina is excited to be helping with this forum so she can help other women meet the demanding challenges in the construction industry.