CARMEN’S QUARTERLY • SUMMER 2021
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Member Spotlight Denise and Rico Shea When you come home and vent after a hard day at work, it's important to have a partner that understands how you feel. When you work at the same job, well, that makes it even easier. That's the case with Carmen's Local 589 members Denise and Rico Shea, who entered the MBTA lottery together in 2004. They were lucky enough to both score a slot and joined Local 589. The job soon turned into a "family affair" in Denise's words, when their daughter Latasha signed on to be a union bus driver as well. "It wasn't a question of joining the union," Denise shared. "We know it would be the smart choice in the long run." Both born and raised in Massachusetts, Denise and Rico Shea have always had strong ties to the city of Boston. After beginning a position as an accountant in 1996 at Clark University, Denise and Rico were introduced through a mutual friend and married four years later. To avoid relocating out of Worcester and Massachusetts with their current jobs, Rico and Denise entered the MBTA lottery. Within a few months, they both were offered bus operator positions. Before starting their positions, the two headed downtown to fill out their paperwork where a secretary's misunderstanding resulted in a memorable first day on the job. While in line, Rico stood about six people ahead of Denise, completing his paperwork before her. When it was Denise's turn, she handed her files to the secretary who mentioned that she had just seen a man who had the same address and last name. Denise joked that the two of them had been adopted by the same family when they were kids. When
Together, Denise and Rico have been each other's support system throughout the years. At the end of long and hard days, each had the other to rely on and talk through any incidents that arose. But that support system didn't end there. The two have been loyal members of Carmen's Local 589 since they began at the MBTA in 2004. Denise voiced her appreciation for the group of hardworking individuals who supported her and her family throughout the years.
Denise returned to explain their true relationship, she found
In 2012, Denise left bus operation behind and took on a new
out they were the first married couple to enter the MBTA and
role as an accountant within the Capital Delivery department
Carmen's union already together.
of the MBTA. As of August 1, 2021, Rico is officially retired
"On your first day, you're supposed to take an employee
from the MBTA.
headshot that they put up on the wall," Denise said. "They
We are so proud of Rico and Denise's accomplishments
were so excited to have a married couple that they had us
throughout the years and are happy to celebrate their loyalty
take our photo together."
to Carmen's Local 589.
