ABOVE: Steamfitters UA Local 602 members at the 2026 Tradeswomen Build Nations conference in Houston. Photo: Courtesy of Rachel McAllister.
A powerhouse delegation of union members affiliated with Mid-Atlantic building trades locals recently returned from Houston, Texas, after joining more than 6,000 attendees at the 16th annual Tradeswomen Build Nations (TWBN) conference.
As the world’s largest gathering of unionized women in the skilled trades, the conference brought together tradeswomen from across North America for three days of empowerment, learning and unity. DC-area trades members who attended said the overall vibe of the historic event was electric, impressive and inspiring.
Finding Strength and Community in Numbers
Sponsored by TradesFutures with host sponsor North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), the conference convened under the theme “Breaking Barriers, Expanding Horizons.” The signature highlight was Saturday morning’s TWBN “Banner Parade.” Thousands of tradeswomen marched together through downtown Houston in hard hats and high-vis gear, waving colorful union banners, chanting and exchanging stickers in a powerful show of collective solidarity.
LiUNA Local 710 members Kiona Lawson, left, and Tangina Dukes, at the 2026 Tradeswomen Build Nations conference in Houston. Photo: Courtesy of Tangina Dukes.
“I felt so much love and so much energy — some of us were teary-eyed seeing that there are this many of us.”
– Tangina Dukes, LiUNA Local 710 member
“I felt so much love and so much energy — some of us were teary-eyed seeing that there are this many of us.”
– Tangina Dukes, LiUNA Local 710 member
“It was amazing,” said Kiona Lawson, a member of LiUNA Local 710 who attended TWBN for the first time this year. “Being in a room surrounded by 6,000-plus women in the trades was very affirming. What stood out for me was knowing that no matter what room I’m in, whether with men or women, I’m allowed to take up space and I matter.”
A Sisterhood Across the Building Trades
“It definitely opens your eyes to how many women there truly are in the trades,” said Rachel McAllister, a 2nd-year apprentice with Steamfitters UA Local 602. “It’s a real sisterhood — it doesn’t matter if you’re in a different local, we all join as one team. Marching through the streets, taking up blocks and cheering for every local was really amazing to see.”
Beyond the parade and plenary sessions, TWBN offered vital educational workshops focused on child care access, workplace retention, mental health resources and worksite safety. Attendees say they returned home equipped with leadership strategies, networking tools and a renewed momentum to support fellow sisters on job sites across the region.
“I felt so much love and so much energy — some of us were teary-eyed seeing that there are this many of us,” recalled Tangina Dukes, a full-time instructor with LiUNA Local 710. “Now that I’m an instructor, I love being able to teach that you’re not alone in this system and sisterhood. Ladies, please never give up — continue to fight.”
IBEW Local 24 Organizer Anna Moore said Tradeswomen Build Nations is “unlike any conference you’ve attended. It’s the largest multi-trade gathering in the country, bringing together women from across the industry.”
“Having the opportunity to connect,” she added, “not only with fellow union members but also with women across trades who share a common purpose is what makes this conference so special.”
IBEW Local 24 members march at the 2026 Tradeswomen Build Nations conference in Houston. Photo: Courtesy of Anna Moore.
“Having the opportunity to connect not only with fellow union members but also with women across trades who share a common purpose is what makes this conference so special.”
– IBEW Local 24 Organizer Anna Moore
A Changing Culture and Growing Impact
The overwhelming sense of community at TWBN comes at a pivotal moment for women in construction. Twenty years ago, the percentage of women in hands-on, field-level trades stagnated at just 2.5%, climbing slightly to around 3.0% a decade ago. Driven by targeted union recruitment pipelines and earn-as-you-learn registered apprenticeships, that share rose to 3.9% five years ago and reached a record 4.3% national benchmark in 2024–2025, according to reports by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.
While national numbers are at an all-time high, many union locals continue working aggressively to break down remaining workplace barriers and expand retention.
“The energy was insane, especially during the march, with people outside their homes on sidewalks cheering for us,” noted Sarah Jones, a 5th-year apprentice with Steamfitters UA Local 602, who was attending her fourth conference. “It’s humbling to hear older generations speak of past hardships, but refreshing to see that younger generations are getting better treatment and opportunities. Things are changing for the better.”
Steamfitters UA Local 602 members march at the 2026 Tradeswomen Build Nations conference in Houston. Photo: Courtesy of Rachel McAllister.
“The energy was insane, especially during the march, with people outside their homes on sidewalks cheering for us.”
– Sarah Jones, 5th-year Apprentice, Steamfitters UA Local 602
“The energy was insane, especially during the march, with people outside their homes on sidewalks cheering for us.”
– Sarah Jones, 5th-year Apprentice, Steamfitters UA Local 602