My Adventures with Ma Bell Termoil and Good Times

For some time I have wanted to write this story. It was one of the highlights of my life and changed a lot of my thinking. Book One is about a man that I admired and respected and our struggle to have another union represent the workers in our company and throughout the telephone industry. Our quest took us from a grassroots movement to an NLRB election date only to have the rug pulled out from under us by the AFL-CIO. Joe Ratti was the local president of CWA Local 2590 representing around 1,300 employee's of the Installation Department for Western Electric Company when I met him. Joe was fighting an uphill battle against the union trying to improve our benefits and wages and found out we were not only fighting Ma Bell but the union that represented us. Our venture took us from writing letters, submitting petitions and being supported under the table by other unions to being given access to 40 union offices across the country, our own office in Philadelphia, all travel and expenses paid and election date set by the NLRB for an election to decertify the telephone workers from the CWA in the state of Michigan. We were not only opposed by the union but also by AT&T. The only thing that stopped us was a merger of two large unions. Even though we did not reach our goal I feel that through Joe's efforts changes were made to acquire better benefits, get a cost of living included in our contract and bring about vested pensions throughout the telephone industry. Joe passed away in December of 2004. Telephone workers across the country owe a lot to this 'Little Big Man.' It has been thirty-five years since this transpired. Not being good at names some may not be accurate and some of the dates may be off. The story overall is based on fact as it happened. Book Two was added on to tell the history of Ma Bell (The Telephone Industry) and a few of the many stories about those I worked with.