Kortnie Chatterton

This episode features Kortnie Chatterton, steward of Branch 111, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:22

Welcome to the History of Female Leadership in the NALC podcast. I'm Craig Schaefer. I'm a city carrier in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, branch 1015. This evening, I'm very lucky to have another sister from Salt Lake City. If you don't mind, go ahead and introduce yourself.

SPEAKER_01 0:39

Hi, I am Courtney Chatterton. I'm out of the Salt Lake City Branch 111. Um, I've been a member since um basically since I started day of orientation, I ended up signing up, which was, I believe, the beginning of August of 2018.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

All right, 2018. So you've you've been you got to go through COVID fun. That was a that was a fun time you're coming in and start right off the bat. So um if you don't mind, you know, let's go back a little bit and why don't you tell us what brought you to the postal service in the first place?

SPEAKER_01 1:18

So I got hired when I was 22. Um, I didn't really know what I wanted to do in college. I also didn't want to pay for college when I had no idea what I wanted to do. I had previously worked at um In and Out Burger, which I know is just kind of on the West Coast for five years. And I've always heard the post office was a good job. Um, I actually tried to get hired back in 2014 out of high school, but the testing was so complex that by the time I got there in 2018, it was a little easier. I was able to figure out the testing, which I've heard they don't even have now. Um, but I got in and I just knew it had good benefits, a good pay, and I figured it would be really long term.

SPEAKER_00 2:04

Yeah. It's a career. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:06

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

Yeah. I um when I took the test, it's been a few more years than that. I I think I took the test in '97. Um, and um I actually I was a casual at the time, which they don't have casuals anymore, but I actually was on my route and I drove the LLV up to this big arena where they were doing the test. And so I'm parking my LLV out in the parking lot, walking in in a uniform to take the test to get hired on. So yeah, things have changed a little bit. Um, well, you know, you you got hired on, you've been around for a little bit. What uh what what caused you? Was there something that caused you to decide to kind of take a leadership role within the NALC?

SPEAKER_01 2:52

Um so I started out as a CCA. I did um almost two years as a CCA before I got hired on as a regular. I became a regular in June of 2020, and then um I actually was lucky enough to get on the color yellow, which was with all my like good co-workers. We were all yellow dates off. And I remember um it was a holiday scheduling. We were the day after the holiday, and every single one of us got mandated to come in. And we asked around because we didn't think we could do that, like we were going into it down no routes, and all we were told was management can just do this, like there was no reasoning, it was just they can do whatever they can do. The steward we had in our office wasn't like super active. Um, they preferred to carry more. Um, but it was kind of like a turning point, and I remember reaching out to um our branch president, and I actually got told not right now the first time I tried. Um, and then things just kept pushing and pushing with management, kind of just being able to do all these things that just didn't seem right to where finally I think um in I know it was in September of 21 that I finally was able to get assigned the steward. Like the steward was willing to step down and be okay with me taking over in September of 2021. Um, but it was more just because management was just mandating. They I felt like there was just everybody was working so much, like 60 plus hours unless you like refused, and it was just getting hectic.

SPEAKER_00 4:37

So yeah, yeah, I I understand that that can push people, and I appreciate you uh being persistent. You know, you said the first time you asked, they said, Well, not right now. You obviously kept on it, and and that's very important because you know, sometimes you might come in at just not the prime time, and they're like, right now we don't have anything, but then you you're on the radar, and then you come back, and now it's like, okay, she's serious, she wants she wants to step up and do something. So that's awesome. That's that's really impressive. Um, what positions have you held?

SPEAKER_01 5:14

So I've been the main steward, which I still currently am. I've been an alternate steward. Um, I am currently a trustee of our branch. Um and then I also do, I'm also an NAA for Region 2 at the moment as well.

SPEAKER_00 5:30

Okay. Um, so with your current position as a trustee, what what are your duties?

SPEAKER_01 5:38

So there are three trustees in our branch, and we meet, I would say roughly one to two times a quarter, and we basically go over all the books, make sure all the money is accounted for, where it's going, we're making sure there's um warrants out for what's being spent, making sure all the checks match up, making sure everything that comes out of the account is being accounted for. Um that's basically all we do, but it's it's been fun. I've only been in it for three years now. I got appointed to it um three years ago, and then I actually got voted into the position six months later. And so good.

SPEAKER_00 6:20

Yeah, and that's a very important position because I mean, when the membership come and want to know where their money is being spent, it's good to know that you have trustees that are watching out for the membership and making sure the money is being spent correctly. So that's uh very I mean, it's it's one of those unsung hero uh jobs, you know, where nobody really thinks about you guys, but you really are, you know, the checks and balances of the branch, and that's that's a really good, good job. And you know, it's it's very important. So thank you for doing that. Um thank you. So, you know, a lot of times when I talk to the ladies, um, they have had some experiences where they've been treated a little off, we'll say, um, whether it be some kind of discrimination or just harassment of some sort, either by management or sometimes even within our union, you know. Um, have you had any dealings with anything like that?

SPEAKER_01 7:26

Um kind of. So um I am the main steward, and my alternate is one of my really good friends. Um we actually work kind of more as a team when it comes to steward work, which I know isn't necessarily how it works, but um, our station manager, I've dealt a lot with him. He he tends to treat me a bit differently than he treats my male counterpart in the union as well. Um I know I've been in formal meetings with him before where he sh he's compared me to his wife just because I didn't agree with him. He he he really like sits there, trying to make me understand his point, and I'm like, look, I don't agree, and then he like I think you're just like my wife, and I feel like other people would not get that, and I feel like it's kind of out of line, but other than that, I don't think I've really had too much other than the standard union management relationships, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:32

Yeah, and I mean the you're gonna have the contentious uh union management relationship, but there's a line there, and you know, it just it's it's kind of makes it weird, you know. And so I I get it, and and like you said, I guarantee you he's not comparing your male counterpart to his wife, you know. Yeah, so yeah, that uh that yeah, that's it's on a scale, I guess it's not the worst it could be, but still, yeah, it it the bottom line is you're in there doing your business and you shouldn't have that stuff going on. So yeah, totally that that's very irritating, I I would think. Um so you know, you do you do steward work, which you know the trustee thing, of course, that you just meet a few times a year, check the books, so it's not a lot of time, but the steward work can sometimes get pretty time consuming. Um has doing that steward work working, and and even you're in an NAA work, a lot of times that takes you away from home or and you know, you're you know, away from your family and friends. Has that caused you any issues at all with either family or friends being away from you know the time you're giving to the union?

SPEAKER_01 9:53

I think it definitely did in the beginning. I remember not being in a relationship um when I first started being a steward, but then I got when it's actually the one I'm currently with, um, and we have a baby together, or I guess he's a toddler now. But at the beginning, it was really hard to be able to separate union work and then like going home and bringing the stress home. And I I struggled with it and I felt like I was really stressed out, and then I did step down to just being an alternate for a little bit before I went back to being a main steward. And I do feel like now I have a bit better of a manage on um handling the stresses, when to like leave it at leave it at work and when to come home. And then with the NAA work, I do mostly work from home, uh, more of as a supporting NAA to people that do like the main traveling positions, but um it has made me have to spend more time um when I am home away from the family, um, which sometimes sucks, but at the same time, I really enjoy what I'm doing, and I feel like we make a lot of difference in these smaller offices with the NAA work, so that's satisfying.

SPEAKER_00 11:15

Yeah, yeah. And and it all comes down to having that support at home and realizing that you know they understand how important this is to you, and it sounds like you have that, and that's that's very important. Um, and I have a feeling that my next question is probably gonna consist of some of the home stuff, which was uh when you finally turn the phone off and you close the laptop and you're just done with the NALC for a few minutes. What do you like to do to relax, unwind? Do you have hobbies? What do you what do you like to do?

SPEAKER_01 11:50

Yeah. Um, so it's interesting because both me and my partner work at the post office. So we actually go into work together, come home together. Um, he sees all everything I do with the union and stuff. So um I have become a big fan of watching sports with my partner. That's been a lot of fun. Finals are going on right now. That's been exciting. I do like to read. Um, I do like puzzles like jigsaw puzzles. I feel like they get me out of my head, they're really fun. Um and then uh I do just like to sit back and watch like a good show or a good movie if I can. After after the baby goes to sleep.

SPEAKER_00 12:34

But now how old is your baby?

SPEAKER_01 12:37

Um he actually just turned two.

SPEAKER_00 12:38

Oh, oh, little one.

SPEAKER_01 12:40

Yeah, little one, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:42

Yeah, I've it's been a long time for me. Uh, my my youngest is in next month, turns um 21. So yeah, it goes by fast, but it is so much fun. It really is. Um well, you know, I think you're a a really good person to to give this answer to this next question because you are, you know, you're a younger lady, you are kind of you know, relatively newer in the Postal Service. Um, and I think that you probably would connect with a lot of newer employees that are like listening to you and saying, Oh, well, you know, she sounds like kind of like me, you know. Um what do you have a piece of advice you would give to someone that is thinking about, you know, stepping up and getting involved in the union? Do you have anything you'd say to them?

SPEAKER_01 13:41

Yeah, so I think a big thing that helps is if you're really trying to get into a steward position or just get involved in the union, don't be afraid to ask. Ask for help, ask questions if you have a question. Um if you're in an office and you're not the steward but you want to learn more, hopefully your stewards are willing to like talk with you about how things work and um attending union meetings, um even potentially if you they do like steward trainings, just to even see, so you can see what how it kind of works. Um, never be afraid to ask. I feel like I got not necessarily far, but learned a bit because I wasn't afraid to just ask.

SPEAKER_00 14:26

Yeah, that that's exactly it. And like I said earlier, when you said you went and asked to get involved, and they're like, Well, right now we don't really have anything, but you persisted and you went back and kept going. And that that says a lot about you, in my opinion, that you your persistence paid off, and look at you now, you know, you're doing great. Um, well, that's all my questions for you. So now I'm just gonna turn it back over to you and ask you is there anything you'd like to add? Anything I missed?

SPEAKER_01 14:59

I I really enjoy doing steward work, um, but I also think it's okay to want to either stay in the positions you have, I think it's okay if you want to move up. I also think it's okay if you want to have other interests outside of the post office and the union that you can just pursue on your own time as well. I don't think you have to be all or nothing when it comes to the union positions. Um and I feel like some people try to make it seem like you have to be all in or or not to even make it anywhere. And I don't think it should be that way. I think you can enjoy all aspects of life and still be really good at your job.

unknown 15:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:45

That's that is solid advice. I mean, you know, just there's gotta be that work home life balance. And if not, it ain't gonna it's not gonna end well one way or the other, it's not gonna end well. So yeah, that that's that's great advice. Well, um, Courtney, I I just appreciate you jumping on here, especially uh first off, I appreciate all you're doing for your branch because you got a two-year-old, you're you know, you're getting pulled in a million different directions, and you're still stepping up and you know, helping out your branch, helping out your uh union siblings there in Salt Lake City and apparently all over region too. Um I I when I talk to people like you, it makes me feel safe knowing the you my union is in good hands. And so, excuse me. Um thank you for uh stepping up and doing all you do. And um, thank you to everybody else for listening. Have a great evening. Be safe and be kind.