Jade McBride

This episode features Jade McBride, vice president of Branch 351, Olympia, Washington.

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. Today I'm very lucky to have one of my sisters from the Pacific Northwest. If you don't mind, go ahead and introduce yourself.

SPEAKER_01 0:37

Uh my name is Jade McBride. I am a letter carrier in Olympia, Washington, branch 351.

SPEAKER_00 0:44

All right. And how long have you been with the NALC?

SPEAKER_01 0:47

Um, I've been an NALC member now for six years. I got uh signed up right there in orientation and um been involved now for about five.

SPEAKER_00 0:57

Okay. And um if you if we can take a step back and go back to before you got hired on, what what led you to the postal service in the first place?

SPEAKER_01 1:09

Um, well, so I'm gonna just kind of put this out there. You're probably listening to this right now and hearing a guy's voice. Uh, and so to clear up any confusion, you're if you don't know me, um, I am trans. And so I have a bit of a story of how I ended up in Washington State, and then also how I got involved with the postal service. Um, for about 15 years, I was living in Arizona. I was working in food service. Um, I was actually restaurant management before I moved out to Washington State. Um, but when I got here, the pandemic started, and so I couldn't find a job. And um, I was delivering DoorDash food to pay my bills for quite a bit. I didn't qualify for the unemployment benefits because I had quit my job, moved to a new place, and then everything kind of just went the way it went. And then um, when I was out delivering DoorDash, I was like, well, I can't do this forever. I need to start figuring something else out. And I noticed that uh letter carriers were still out delivering the mail during the pandemic. They were still working and they were working in all sorts of hours, and I was like, that looks stable, looks like I could do that. And so I got involved. Uh, it took a few months to get hired. Um, eventually I got hired on as a uh rural carrier, but um, they wanted me to have my own vehicle, and I was like, no, I don't want to do that. So then I reapplied as a city carrier, and uh here we are.

SPEAKER_00 2:26

All right. Okay, so now you are a city carrier um and you have started, you know, carrying some mail. And what led you to decide to pursue a leadership role in the NALC?

SPEAKER_01 2:42

So I'd never really been involved with the union before and honestly kind of always had been on the management side of things. Um growing up, unions were not really like a positive thing in my household. My mom was always kind of in management, and you know, my dad was a business owner, so it wasn't like there was a big influence like get involved in a union. Um, but when I got hired on as a CCA during my probation, I got voluntold, as I like to say, to go to this uh station that was about five hours away. And um, what I didn't know, and I was there for about two months, but what I didn't know was that the union at the time had been filing these grievances for me because I was carrying rural mail the whole time I was there. And um, when I got back from that uh detail, I mean there was a bunch of extra money on my paycheck, and that was enough to get me interested in like, hey, what's going on over here?

SPEAKER_00 3:33

All right, well, that and that that can do it. Um, I that's I will say that's the first uh lady that I've spoken to that said it was a bonus on her paycheck, basically, that she didn't know was coming, that was what led her to be like, yeah, I want to get involved in this. Um, so but I mean, I'm actually glad to hear that that's what it was because usually it's well, management was basically screwing with me and I wanted to fight back. So they were and that's part of it.

SPEAKER_01 4:02

Um because the way I was treated for two months as a CCA in this other um you know, five hours away, they they weren't paying me correctly. They were they were having me fill out these like green card things, and then when I I was finding out that my hours were missing on the check, and so it was the union that got me like covered on that. So there is an aspect of that of it wasn't just like the the the grievance money, but it was also getting me paid for the hours that I was missing. That also was like part of all that, too.

SPEAKER_00 4:31

For sure, for sure. Okay, well, okay, so it did kind of circle back around to management scaring over. So encompassing, yeah. Yeah, all right. Well, um, so if you don't mind, I know you've I know you got a lot, but what positions have you held and what have you done in the NALC?

SPEAKER_01 4:49

So back in 2021 when the COVID uh 2021, 2022, when those restrictions started getting lifted, um, I started going to meetings and uh I became a branch trustee. Um soon after I started getting interested in being a steward. Once I could I waited until I mid-career before I became a steward. So that was 2023. Um but then I've done uh I've been uh what's it called? Uh an editor for my branch, uh editor for the Status Association, uh been director of media for my branch. Um I'm currently vice president. I've been in T Reet, uh, I've been a nationally assigned assistant. Um I'm currently the JRT for Washington, which is the joint retention team member. Um and I'm also doing some uh headquarters stuff working on like the education project. So and I and I'm honestly probably forgetting things, but a lot.

SPEAKER_00 5:42

Yes, yes, definitely. So um right now in your current position, which is vice president of your branch, what are your duties as vice president?

SPEAKER_01 5:55

Um I always describe it as you know the the spinning plates, right? Just trying to keep all this the plates spinning. There's not really like a defined um what it is like day-to-day duties for vice president. I feel I feel like I'm a catch-all. I'm just kind of duties as a sign, you know. I I assist where I'm needed. I might be planning branch events, I might be filling in as formal A, I might be helping getting the newsletter printed, um, just kind of whatever is needed to make sure the branch is successful. Um yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:24

Yeah. So you just do a little bit of everything. Okay. A little bit of everything. Sounds about right. Um, so this one uh is kind of I always kind of call this the darker part of the podcast because sometimes this is a little bit uh a little more heavy, I guess. Um I want to ask if you have had any personal issues with uh and experiences with any kind of discrimination, and if so, how did you deal with it? And do you feel like they were resolved?

SPEAKER_01 6:57

Um so there's been a few different things that kind of come to mind. Um, without going into too many details about it, because there's people who are still involved and whatnot, but um, I had an incident with our regional steward college where it was kind of singled out and uh othered a bit. But um, my business agent handled that really well and immediately handled it. And I I was really appreciative of that. It was at a Steward College. Um, there's been some other instances where not necessarily from the union or even from the Postal Service, but from just like the federal government as a federal employee. Um this last year they put restrictions on gender-affirming care for uh health insurance coverages. So that right now is kind of a minefield trying to make sure you're getting coverages. And I don't think that the exceptions process is actually gonna continue into next year. So we'll see how that all shakes out. And then a lot of times, you know, these uh the NALC holds these events in places where um I'm just not gonna go. Uh, you know, they have the the health benefits seminar in Florida, and I just there I'm not trying to catch a felony for using the bathroom in Florida. Um, there's there's 22 states right now with restrictions on uh on which restroom I could use, right? And so there I'm I'm constantly having to look and see where exactly an event is taking place. Like a lot of times they do branch officer training in Texas, and that's just another place that I'm not gonna go. And and that's unfortunate, but that's also like, well, it's not that I'm being discriminated against against the NELC. It's just that the events are being held in places with state governments that are um hostile towards trans people and and and how hostile towards um us being able to go to those places. And in some of those are even in my own region. You know, we had a rap session a few years ago in uh quarterline, Idaho, where not just myself but a few members had issues with uh some of the locals. And and it's not necessarily the people in our union, it's just the environment for where sometimes our union holds events that is the issue.

SPEAKER_00 9:02

Wow, I I had never even thought of something like that before. I mean, that I I mean, to be fair, as a straight white guy, I I'm pretty much fly under the radar wherever I go. And um it this is one thing that has opened my eyes a lot, you know, just speaking to females in general, but then you have a new even a different spin on it as well, where it it's I'm I apologize. I I hate that that you even have to think about that. And I I understand that I I can I can't understand, but I understand where you're coming from, and I I I hate that. That that's horrible. Um well um another kind of deep question is um you know you do a lot of traveling. You're I've I've seen you uh in different places where I'm traveling and run into you. Um with the time that you have put into the NALC and your duties, has that caused you any issues with like family or friends because you're not able to be around as much as you would, you know, obviously like to, but you you are doing what you're doing, you know?

SPEAKER_01 10:18

Yeah, so I don't really have much family um in Washington State. And when I say much, I mean none. I don't have any family in Washington State. Um, I've got a few close friends, you know, and they understand that I'm constantly traveling, but uh most of my friends I would say are probably other union advocates. And so for me, traveling is an opportunity to see my friends. Um and a lot of times that's really great to be able to see people because we keep in touch on Facebook, but we might only see each other a few times a year. So it's actually nice to be able to do that. Um, but locally, you know, I've got some uh some good friends, um, and they under they understand it it's it is difficult though, because you have to really make it work in order to maintain those friendships, maybe while you're on the road, taking those phone calls, even if you're busy, but then when you're back in town and making sure you're making time for them as well.

SPEAKER_00 11:07

Yeah, yeah. Well, I um on that note, I I mean, you were all the way, you flew all the way from Washington to come out to Maritime to be there for my speech night, and it really meant a lot to me. And I I know that some people would probably say you were there because you were taking part in that other training that was going on out there, but I don't believe that. I know that the only reason you were there was that, and then that training thing was just a a side note, but no, I yeah, it it uh no it was it was on it was honestly the the barbecue ribs that they had at the cafeteria at the hotel. No, um yeah, I know that's not true. Uh if if you've been to Maritime before, it's uh it's it's it's nice, but sometimes the the food selection is a little you never know. You just never know.

SPEAKER_01 12:00

But uh yeah, yeah. No, um in and uh congratulations on on your uh on on your your speech, Night. I thought that went really great. Um and the uh informal aid training that we did that week, you know, I was really excited to see that that went well.

SPEAKER_00 12:14

Yeah, yeah. It seemed like every I spoke to a couple people from kind of my area that went through the informal and uh they said that it was super awesome training. So uh that was good to hear. It's always it's always nice to know people are getting just more informed, you know, learning more knowledge.

SPEAKER_01 12:37

There's just something, you know, about like the the students they they show up and you can tell that they're just not really sure what they got into themselves into. There's a five-inch binder in front of them, and they're like, What do you mean we're gonna get through this by Wednesday? But usually by the end of the week, you know, they're they're like, Oh, okay, wow, I can actually do this, and you you see their confidence build, and that was really great.

SPEAKER_00 12:54

So, yeah, definitely. Um, so um, we'll bring it around to when you aren't traveling and when you aren't working, you know, doing carrying mill, obviously, but doing anything else. What do you like to do to unwind, relax, and uh do you have hobbies?

SPEAKER_01 13:11

Yeah, so like you said, I travel quite a bit. So I I do uh have a few different like house plants and stuff. Um, they're typically uh succulents and other plants that are harder to kill if I'm not around all the time. Um, you know, that they they kind of self-maintain for the most part. Um, but I I've got some house plants I like. Uh I do a bit of baking. I love to cook. Um, listen to a lot of music. Uh being in the Pacific Northwest, you know, it's it's it's gorgeous with the the mountains and the trees and stuff. Sometimes I like to go out and just be near a lake or a forest or something and and whatnot. But uh that would I would say that pretty much covers it. Most most of my time I I love to cook. I mean, I am constantly making making meals, and that's something that you don't really get to do when you travel a lot. So when I'm home, I I make sure I I cook food.

SPEAKER_00 14:02

All right. Well, uh now I know that uh if my wife and I make another trip up to the the Pacific Northwest, I know where I'm coming because the great thing is I love to eat, so it works out really well. Uh there you go. So, you know, you you haven't been around for the longest amount of time, but at the same time, you've done so much stuff and you've seen so many things, and you you've just been in the mix. And so what I would ask of you is do you have a piece of advice that you would give to someone that is maybe listening to this thinking, you know what, I I think I want to get involved with the union. What would they what would you say to them to as a piece of advice to you know get them going?

SPEAKER_01 14:46

Well, um I don't recommend doing what I did, which was just say yes to everything and then just hopefully make it all work out because that causes a lot of people to burn out. But I would also at the same time, um, I've never really said no. And and that's that's part of it. Is it's always just whenever whenever the membership wants me to do, I'm I'm usually just even if I don't know how to do it, you know, I just I'll figure it out. And and it's uh yeah, I can do that. Now let's figure out how. And and that's really kind of gotten me as hard as I am now, is just always being willing to do whatever the membership wants me to do, and um and hopefully not screwing it up. And and usually when you're doing um something is when you uh get asked to do something else. And that's a lot of times what it is is is like, well, how do you keep doing all these things? And it's like, well, I was doing this and they saw me doing it, and and they asked me to do this, and now now I'm doing this, and it's just that's constantly what it is. It's just doing doing what you're doing and and just keep doing it well as it you can.

SPEAKER_00 15:47

Yeah, that's that's solid solid advice. I mean, you just keep doing as best you can. You know, no one's perfect, you just kind of learn from your mistakes and keep moving on. So yeah. Well, um, I'm I'm my questions are done for you. So what I will ask now is do you have anything that you want to throw in extra? Anything you have to add that I missed?

SPEAKER_01 16:09

Um, the only the only other thing I would want to say is it's uh kind of an honor to be part of this podcast. Some of the the ladies that you've talked to on here um are people I really respect. And so just to be able to share the uh the platform that uh that they've been on also is is really um humbling, or you know, it's a privilege for me. That's really that's really great. I I uh I appreciate that the give me the time to come on here and speak.

SPEAKER_00 16:35

Well, uh I appreciate everything you do. Um I I think I first met you maybe in 2024 in Boston at the convention, I believe. Um we um we had that hangout that one particular evening and we kind of hung out a little bit there. It was uh we had a blast that night. Um I a lot made a lot of really good friends that night. And um I always look forward to seeing you. Uh you just kind of have that electric personality that kind of makes you just you people gravitate towards you because you are just a kind human being. And um I and and then also not to mention a killer leader. So it it you have that it factor, I guess I would say. So thank you so much for joining me.

SPEAKER_01 17:24

Hey, and and thank you for everything you do. I mean, I I see you around also and doing stuff, and so it takes all of us, and I appreciate you saying that.

SPEAKER_00 17:33

Well, you're very welcome, and thank you. Um, and so uh that's all I have. I once again, Jay, thank you so much for joining me, and uh thank you everyone for uh listening in and be safe and be kind of