Shanaya "Shay" Benson

This episode features Shay Benson, branch auditor of Branch 11, Chicago, Illinois.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:20

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. Today I am excited to have another sister from up north Illinois, Chicago. Go ahead and introduce yourself.

SPEAKER_01 0:37

Hi, my name is Shinea Benson, but everyone calls me Shay, and I'm from Branch 11, Chicago, Illinois. And I've been an NALC member since I started as a TE in 2012. So it'll be 14 years this year.

SPEAKER_00 0:55

Congratulations. And uh so we're gonna go back. Um, we'll we'll go back the 12 years. What brought you to the Postal Service in the first place?

SPEAKER_01 1:05

Well, um, my family totally expected me to finish college and go a different route professionally, of course, but life had other plans, and so I had to leave college. And shortly after I started a family and um became a mom. My daughter, she was born really prematurely, so I was a stay-at-home mom while she was young. But once she was healthy and she was doing well, I wanted a little bit more independence and honestly, I needed the money. And so I come from I actually come from like a kind of like a postal family. Like there's a lot of people in my family that work for the postal service or Chicago police officers. So the um postal service, it just wasn't unfamiliar to me. So I'll never forget the day I went to the Chicago Public Library with my daughter sitting on my lap and I filled out the application. And I never imagined I'd make a career out of the postal service because at first it was just me looking for a job that allowed me to provide for my daughter, but over time it became a career, and eventually through the union, it feels like a calling.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

So that well, first off, I'm so glad to hear that your daughter is doing well. Um and uh how old is she now?

SPEAKER_01 2:28

She's 15.

SPEAKER_00 2:29

15, wow, yeah. Uh it goes fast, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_01 2:33

Yeah, she's gonna be a sophomore, and she's just been having the summer of her life, I have to add. Like she just got back from South Africa, then she went to Columbus, Ohio, and she's gearing up to lead to go to Colorado on a camping trip this weekend.

SPEAKER_00 2:48

So that girl wow, she's killing it. That's awesome. Yeah, that sounds like a fun to me. I wish I could do something like that. That's me too. I'm jealous.

SPEAKER_01 2:58

She's been more places than I have.

SPEAKER_00 3:00

Yeah, yeah. I'm my my oldest daughter is kind of the same way, and my youngest daughter's catching up to her very quickly. So yeah. It's good to see though. I always enjoy watching my daughters, and I'm sure you're the same way, watching them just live their life and and do good, and so that's that's awesome. Um, what uh you know, you kind of mentioned that you you uh decided to kind of pursue a role in the NALC, not only just be a member, but actually step up and do some more. Was there something that caused you to pursue a leadership role?

SPEAKER_01 3:37

Well, um I was always like a face in the case type of career. I never liked a lot of attention. And that's just because how you know early in my career I was treated pretty badly by management. And I guess it's because I was always challenging them. Um I I always needed things to make sense, and they don't do a lot of things that make sense, so I never accepted because management says so as an answer. So I spent a lot of days crying, delivering mail because I felt so powerless. And I would call my mom, who actually is she's a clerk for the Postal Service, but she did carry mail for a while in the 90s, and she used to always try to, you know, say, You got it, you're strong, you got it. And I would just call back another day crying, and then one day she was like, Well, quit then. And I'm like, No, because I'm stubborn. So um eventually I just started kind of learning my rights, and um learning the contract kind of gave me this confidence. And once I learned my rights, I just couldn't keep them to myself. I had to share with the other carriers, and so they will always ask me questions, even like the senior carriers. And when I look back, I think that they weren't just asking me questions because I knew the answers, I think they were asking because they knew I cared. And so the more I learned, the more people started coming to me. And so in my branch, stewards are elected, and um, during nominations, carriers kept asking me if I was gonna put my name in, and I was like, no. They would ask, I said no. But it was literally the last day, the last hour. I said, I guess I'll put my name on this list, and I signed up to be the steward. So I never set out thinking I'm gonna be a union leader. I just kept saying yes to opportunities to help people. So once I got into the position as steward, um, it was a rough beginning for that as well, because that's when I found out that they were coming to my office with a pilot program. And that pilot program was consolidated casing.

SPEAKER_00 5:56

Oh no.

SPEAKER_01 5:57

The six-in-one casing, the worst thing that could have ever happened to that office. The effects from that still last to this day, even though you know they they took it out. Um, so I they would bring a bunch of management officials in from all over the country, and they were just so piled into that office. And I had to start later at 9 a.m. as a streeter. So I would come in early, and I'm telling you, I'm a new steward. I'm just like, I have to see what's going on. And they would like give me such a hard time, and I would just fight back, I wouldn't bite back down. So my president at the time, Mac Julian, he just like, I like her. So I guess he just kind of pulled me in and brought me under his wing, and that's how my union career began.

SPEAKER_00 6:46

Nice. Well, and I will say Mac has a way of uh making you kind of feel like you can run through a brick wall. You know, he's just he's he's just so supportive, and I I've been very fortunate to be around Mac, not as much as you, obviously, but um a few different times, and he's always just such a he's an amazing man, really. He is, and that's all I can say about that. But back to you. Um and also side note, I did come into an office one time up in the Kansas City area, and I can't remember which one it was, and they had that consolidated casing thing going on. Yeah, wow, is all I can say. That was whoever thought of that should have been fired before they even thought of that because if they would have came up with that, they are crazy.

SPEAKER_01 7:33

That was yeah, they were they were probably so proud of themselves, like I know what to do.

SPEAKER_00 7:38

Yes, exactly. Yeah, that was the worst. I guarantee you it wasn't ever they were never a carrier. They would never have done that if they were a carrier, or maybe they would have. Who knows? I don't know, you would be surprised. Yeah, yeah, they seem to sometimes they kind of forget where they came from a lot of times. Um so what positions have you held in your branch, or I don't know if you've done anything statewide, but uh as far as what positions have you held in the NALC?

SPEAKER_01 8:05

Sure. Well, I was a steward. Um, and then I became a sergeant at arms for my branch and then an auditor. Um the auditor position, I know not a lot of branches have that, but in branch 11, we have trustees and auditors, and so auditors kind of do some of the jobs you probably would expect a trustee to do in your branch. Essentially assign warrants and stuff, you know, not so glamorous, but auditor, and then um formal A designee and do formal A full-time. I've also done backup at step B, and I'm an arbitration advocate. Um, and in my branch, I also helped to found the education committee, and I'm the chair, and I'm proud to say that we put on our first full-day stewards training last year. I'm looking forward to doing it again. So um I'm really most passionate about teaching and mentoring and developing future leaders. So I've also been facilitators for regional trainings, including in my region, we have our own leadership academy. So I've been the a facilitator and mentor there for the past couple years. So basically, every opportunity to serve has prepared me for the next opportunity. That's what it's been.

SPEAKER_00 9:27

Well, and you've kind of bounced around it. You might as well say, what's the best leadership academy class ever?

SPEAKER_01 9:33

Well, you know, I happen to be a part of the great 28.

SPEAKER_00 9:37

There we go. I I I saw it was coming, so I just figured I might as well just let it gotta represent. You gotta represent it. Yeah, I know. I'm I mean, I'm I'm not gonna say anything about 32 being you know up here, but you know, it's okay. It's all right. Okay, we'll we'll we'll we'll agree to disagree on that one. Uh so if you don't mind, you know, you kind of touched on it, but you were can you kind of explain what the auditor position a little uh just a tad bit more into that? Because I I've never heard of that before. So I'm kind of interested in hearing a little more about that as well.

SPEAKER_01 10:12

Yeah, I mean, it's just another layer of reviewing, you know, what we spend in the branch. And so we have to have, you know, multiple eyes on it. And in my branch, we have three auditors, so we kind of, you know, review the bills, make sure everything matches up and sign the warrants and pass them off.

SPEAKER_00 10:29

And I think it's important though, as well. Um, I know you don't have an exact number, but uh branch 11, how many members rel roughly how many members do you have guys have in your branch?

SPEAKER_01 10:40

A last check around 5,200, 5,300 members.

SPEAKER_00 10:44

Yeah, yeah. And I I wanted you to point that out because if someone is listening that isn't really familiar with, you know, branches or the size of branches and why you might need that. Whereas my branch, we have our trustees and we don't need auditors. Um 5,200 members, that's that's a lot of people. So um it's yeah, it's kind of important to have eyes on every drop dime, you know, and it's it it's great to have that kind of it it instills uh security in your membership knowing that it's there's no money that's just going away. It's it's all accounted for, and that's that's great. That really is. I think that's it's super important to be a good steward of the membership's money. And so that that's amazing. Um so you know, this is kind of like I I hate to ask these questions, but I feel like they're very important because I think that people uh, you know, especially someone that may be newer in the NALC or a long time, you know, that might be thinking about taking a role in the NALC, but they've had some issues. Have you dealt with anything personally as far as harassment, discrimination from management? And unfortunately, sometimes it's coming from our own union siblings. Uh, have have you had any of those dealings? And if so, uh, how did you deal with it? And do you feel like you you got it resolved?

SPEAKER_01 12:18

Okay. Well, uh, you know, I've been through a lot of things, and that's kind of what, you know, caused me to step up and be, you know, that barrier in between the things that management does, and you know, because some of the things I went through, I don't think that anyone else should have to go through it just because I did. If I can tell you how to navigate through this, I will. So I wouldn't say I've been through discrimination, but I've definitely faced my fair share of challenges. And um, one of those a little bit was like being underestimated because of my age. Um, you know, feeling like maybe they don't, you know, pay attention as much or disregard some things just because of my age. I'm actually still the youngest officer in my branch by more than 10 years. And it's crazy because I'm a millennial and millennials are middle-aged now. We're really not that young. So um, but um, I've also had moments where I felt like the I could give the same exact message, but it would be received differently depend depending on who delivered it. Like I could tell you this, but you would hear it better from someone else. Sometimes they hear it better from a man. Um, but you know, a lot of my toughest experiences actually came from other women, whether it is women in management or fellow members. But I will say that those experiences have really pushed me to grow. Um, I am a person that I want to be better than I was yesterday. Every day I just want to grow and become the best version of myself. So I spent a lot of time self-reflecting and I've thought about how I could know the contract front and back. I could have all of the passion in the world to help the people. But how I'm being received matters too. So I've learned that being knowledgeable isn't always enough, and that communication matters too. So sometimes you have to adjust your approach, and it's not because your message is wrong, but it's because you want to actually be able to reach the people. So um, you know, I've had to make some adjustments just because I I want the members to know that I'm here for them, and you know, I want them to know that. But also, um early in my union journey, I didn't really have a woman mentor, and I also think that's one of the reasons why mentorship, especially mentoring other women, is really important to me today. So I just want to be the change I want to see.

SPEAKER_00 15:05

That's awesome. That is uh that is one thing that I hope that this podcast does. If someone is listening, you have uh we're we're at, I don't know how many episodes I've got. What's it say 45, 50 somewhere in there? These ladies that are on this, including yourself, you guys are mentors. And if anybody reached out to any of the ladies that's been on the podcast, I have no doubt that you would take them in, you know, because that just you can tell that's the what has got you to where you're at. And yeah, that is that's that's awesome. I love it. I love it. Um another question that's kind of uh kind of rough at times. Um, you know, doing all the stuff that you do, you listed off all the different uh positions you've held, the different roles you play in your branch. Uh obviously that takes time away from family, friends. Um, you know, has that caused any issues for you at all?

SPEAKER_01 16:08

Absolutely. Absolutely it has. You know, leadership, it doesn't end when you leave work. You know, people call, they text, and me, like I have this brain that just never wants to sleep, it doesn't stop working. So I'm always thinking about someone's grievance, even in my sleep. Um, and then, you know, as an officer of a large branch, I have a lot of obligations that, you know, exist outside of the home. So that can be really difficult for family and friends to understand because the work is mentally exhausting, it's not just physically demanding. But um, I've really had to learn the importance of creating boundaries and protecting my own well-being. But um, one thing that really makes me smile is the fact that my daughter, she is a true union baby, she loves coming to the union meetings. She actually gets really upset if she has to miss one.

unknown 17:02

Really?

SPEAKER_01 17:03

And it's awesome. Yeah, and like I always, whenever I try to get people to come to the meetings and they say, Oh, but I have kids, I tell them, bring the kids. This is a kid-friendly branch because my daughter, she literally will watch them like she'll keep them occupied. She's 15. So she loves the kids and she'll keep them during the union meetings. So, like seeing her take pride in the union, it just reminds me that you know, we're building something for the next generation too.

SPEAKER_00 17:31

So that is so cool. I love it. I love it. I wish uh we had some way of doing that. Uh, we're just not at the level of being able to have you know any extra people where we what with our branch, but you know, that is that's really cool that you guys have a setup for people because there are a lot of people that would love to come to meetings, but they just can't because of kids. So, you know, that is that is really, really cool. Um, well, you know, at some point you said you're working on learning your boundaries and you know, maybe turning the phone off or shutting the laptop down in the evenings or on a weekend or whatever. Um when you do finally say, I've had enough for right now, I'm gonna take a break. What do you like to do to unwind or relax? Do you uh have hobbies? What do you like to do on your free time?

SPEAKER_01 18:22

Well, if you asked me this at the end of last year, I would not have known what to tell you. And that's because I was really, really bad at unwinding and relaxing. I was really, really bad at it. And I actually found myself in a very deep and profound and very long-lasting burnout. And I'm really proud to have pulled myself out of it because it was it was rough. So I've had to learn that you know, taking care of myself is not selfish, it's necessary, especially if I'm gonna continue taking care of others. So this year I've really been focusing on my health journey. Um, one of the ways that I put down the weight that I mentally carry is by weightlifting. So I like to lift. Um, I like beauty and self-care, you know. I like to look good, smell good, feel good. Not in a vain way. I'm just a girl. Um I like to go out to brunch with my girlfriends. I love to travel. I also love quiet time with a good book. But the most important thing that I like to do, some things can't turn off. I love to learn. Um, so I've done a lot of union trainings. I was um, I attended the Regina Polk Women's Conference. Um, it's a program through the University of Illinois. And I attended that conference. I also um took the advanced class, Women in Power. So these were two um programs that were just for union women, um different unions. So really cool, unique experiences that, you know, I really value the relationships that you know I've made from those classes. Um also in region three, I was a part of the first leadership academy that they had in 2020. Took us two years to graduate because of COVID. So um that, of course, you know, Leadership Academy National grade 28, that was me. And then also this year, I um recently graduated from the labor leadership academy where I earned a certificate um through the University of Illinois. So just whether it's a good book, whether it's training, or just learning from the people around me, I just think that learning really keeps me grounded. It's what I love to do.

SPEAKER_00 20:40

So nice. Well, I would say that I've had other ladies say that they like to read and, you know, kind of learning, maybe not as in-depth as you on the union side of it, but or labor side, but you know, a lot of reading and everything. But you are the first weightlifter. That's the first time I've had that one. So that's exciting for me.

SPEAKER_01 21:03

Especially if I had a bad meeting with management. Oh, I'm gonna knock it out in the gym.

SPEAKER_00 21:07

That's awesome. That's that's really good. And I mean, you take out your frustrations while you're getting healthier. That's a win-win. So yeah, that's awesome. Well, um, you know, uh what I I hope with this podcast that a lot of times we might have newer union siblings that are just coming up that are maybe listening to this, and maybe they're thinking about, hey, you know what, I I think I might want to, you know, start getting into a little bit of uh a role in the NALC. Um what would be a piece of advice that you would give somebody new that is just kind of starting out in their NALC journey? What would you what would you say to that person?

SPEAKER_01 21:50

I would say don't wait until you know everything. Um some people like to put it off because you know they're scared of looking ignorant. I was kind of like that. I hate to be ignorant, but you know, none of us knew anything when we first started. We just had the passion to help. So just make sure you ask questions and study the contract and be willing to learn. Find you a mentor. If you struggle, you can reach out to me because, like you alluded to, I will mentor anyone, especially those who have the desire, because I want whoever comes after me, I want them to be better than me. I want them to go out there in our world and be great because we're we're all better together. And understand that, you know, sometimes the best mean mentors will teach you what to do, but sometimes they teach you what not to do. So you can learn from the mistakes of others. My mom always told me you don't have to learn through first-hand mistakes. Like, um don't compare your leadership journey to anyone else's. Just be authentic and keep showing up even if you don't feel prepared or ready. Just keep showing up and take care of yourself along the way because burnout helps no one. And um, you know, it's just about continuing to learn, continuing to serve, continuing to show up for people. Don't let anyone convince you that your voice does not belong in the room.

SPEAKER_00 23:21

Yep.

unknown 23:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:22

That's excellent advice. Um, and the one that you even mentioned that you kind of struggled with was the burnout. And it it is a real. And if you get, you know, you want to jump in there and you know, you want to, you're there because you're wanting to help people, but at some point you've got to take care of yourself or you're not going to be any good for anybody else, like you said. And so that is something that I've had to kind of step away, you know, not for any length of time, but just like take a day off and just say, I've got to chill for a day, and and it re-rejuvenates you and you can get back in the fight again. So yeah, that's that's that's awesome advice. Well, my questions are done, so I will kick it back to you and ask you, did I forget anything? Is there anything you would like to add? The floor is yours.

SPEAKER_01 24:16

Okay. Um, if I could lead people with one thing, um, I would say that I'm really hopeful for the future of women in our union. Um I I think I mentioned to you when we were talking earlier, when people come to branch 11 and I kind of give a tour of our union hall, I love to bring them to the wall that has the pictures of all of the officers of branch 11 of the past. And I don't know how old the oldest picture is. It looks like the 70s, if I had to guess from the hair and clothing, I don't know. But when I look at the old officer pictures from my branch, the earliest ones didn't have any women in the picture at all. And then you start to see one woman and then another. And now, you know, women are leading some of the largest branches in the country. And I just think that's incredible progress. And I never want us to lose sight of how far we've come. But on the other hand, I also think that representation matters. Um, when you see someone who looks like you in leadership, it really helps you believe that maybe there's a place for you too. And so, even, you know, today when I go to this convention next month and I look at the stage, I'm not gonna see anyone that looks like me as a black woman sitting up there. But I'm more hopeful now than I've ever been because I do think that we're moving in the right direction. And the other thing I hope we continue working on is how we support one another as women. Because I told you some of the roughest times I've had have have come from other women. And I don't think we all have to agree. We don't all have to have the same leadership style, but I do think that we all need each other and we have enough challenges without creating more for one another. So I hope we can continue mentoring each other and encouraging each other, building genuine relationships because at the end of the day, we're all letter carriers, we're all union members, and we are all stronger together than we could ever be apart. So that's all I would say.

SPEAKER_00 26:26

All right. Well, um, whenever you decide what position you're gonna run for to get up there on that stage, let me know. You got my vote. You you sold me. I'm I'm I you got my vote.

SPEAKER_01 26:37

Um sounds good.

SPEAKER_00 26:39

Yeah, I uh you there's no question that um I always especially, you know, I I enjoy listening to the stories of the retirees, I enjoy listening to the stories of the carriers of my age group, and but I think I enjoy the most listening to leaders of your age group because I know listening to you that I have nothing to worry about in the future when I'm when I'm going off into the sunset with people like you ready to take the reins and run with it. You're I mean, you're already so far ahead of where I'll ever be. But you know, uh knowing that we have this group of of young people coming up, it's very it it does me, does my heart well knowing that we're safe. We have we're we're we're gonna be in good hands for the foreseeable future. And and I thank you for all you do. Um your branch is extremely fortunate to have you. Um the next time I'm in Chicago, I am going to look you up because I want to come see this branch hall. I I see it on you know, the the videos on Facebook. I follow you. I'm in your I'm in your branch group. Uh, you know, I you have an open invite. Well, I will I will definitely be looking you up the next time I make it to the north side of uh the state of Illinois. I mean, we're we're all we're Illinois, so we're all good. Uh but um no, seriously, thank you so much, Jay. I appreciate you jumping on here with me. Uh I know we've been working on trying to get this lined out, and it's just been everybody's busy, but thank you so much. Uh side note, um, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that reached out to me. My I my mother passed away a few weeks ago. Um, I've had a lot of calls, texts, messages, uh cards, things like that. It it means a lot to have people, you know, and and to know that this group, I say it all the time, I am so fortunate to be part of the NALC. I would, if it wasn't for the NALC, I wouldn't be here talking to you. I I wouldn't have met you and and and now have a new friend. I have met so many amazing people, and I it it really, you know, hits really hard when you see when you have something like that happen and these people that don't have to do anything reach out to you and just say, you know, we're sending our condolences. It just it meant a lot. And so I just wanted to throw that out there. I didn't mean to hijack your episode, Shay, but I just needed to mention that. It's it's been a it's been a wild couple weeks, and uh I I thank you for jumping on here with me and uh thank everybody else out there listening to the podcast. Um have a great night, and most importantly, be safe and be kind of a good idea.