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Kenny Bergstrom: Helped Bargain 'Pacesetting' AT&T Contract
Kenneth H. Bergstrom, retired administrative assistant to CWA's vice president for Communications and Technologies and former national director of Western Electric Sales, died on July 24 due to complications of diabetes. He was 73.
"Kenny Bergstrom helped bargain our pacesetting 1980 contract with AT&T," said retired C&T Vice President Jim Irvine, "And during the difficult period following the 1984 divestiture, he reached out personally to so many of our locals and members who suffered layoffs."
Bergstrom joined CWA when he went to work as an electronics technician for Western Electric in 1950. Undertaking various leadership roles in Local 7295, he eventually rose to president of the local and vice president of the Minneapolis CWA City Council.
He joined the staff in January 1966 and was assigned as a representative for the CWA Sales unit at AT&T's Western Electric, based in New York City, which sold and repaired telephones and equipment. In December 1967, he was named assistant national director for Sales, and in June 1974 became national director.
When Western Electric moved its labor relations personnel to North Carolina in the 1970s, Bergstrom moved to CWA's office in Greensboro, N.C., and in June 1977 occupied a new office building opened for the National Director's Unit.
Bergstrom served on the national committee that bargained the 1980 Western Electric contract. "So much of what we have in our AT&T and Lucent contracts came out of 1980, including retirement after 30 years," Irvine said. "Back then only CWA and the Autoworkers had it."
After divestiture, Western Electric became part of AT&T Technologies. The sales office moved to Somerset, N.J., in July 1985, and Bergstrom moved with it. In May 1986, following a restructuring of CWA, he was named administrative assistant to CWA Vice President for AT&T Technologies Ron Allen. In July 1987, when CWA combined AT&T Communications and Technologies under one vice president, he became administrative assistant to Irvine. He retired in July 1991.
Bergstrom is survived by his wife, Alyce, of Greensboro, N.C.; two sons Kenneth and David; a daughter, Catherine Bauer, and three grandchildren.
"Kenny Bergstrom helped bargain our pacesetting 1980 contract with AT&T," said retired C&T Vice President Jim Irvine, "And during the difficult period following the 1984 divestiture, he reached out personally to so many of our locals and members who suffered layoffs."
Bergstrom joined CWA when he went to work as an electronics technician for Western Electric in 1950. Undertaking various leadership roles in Local 7295, he eventually rose to president of the local and vice president of the Minneapolis CWA City Council.
He joined the staff in January 1966 and was assigned as a representative for the CWA Sales unit at AT&T's Western Electric, based in New York City, which sold and repaired telephones and equipment. In December 1967, he was named assistant national director for Sales, and in June 1974 became national director.
When Western Electric moved its labor relations personnel to North Carolina in the 1970s, Bergstrom moved to CWA's office in Greensboro, N.C., and in June 1977 occupied a new office building opened for the National Director's Unit.
Bergstrom served on the national committee that bargained the 1980 Western Electric contract. "So much of what we have in our AT&T and Lucent contracts came out of 1980, including retirement after 30 years," Irvine said. "Back then only CWA and the Autoworkers had it."
After divestiture, Western Electric became part of AT&T Technologies. The sales office moved to Somerset, N.J., in July 1985, and Bergstrom moved with it. In May 1986, following a restructuring of CWA, he was named administrative assistant to CWA Vice President for AT&T Technologies Ron Allen. In July 1987, when CWA combined AT&T Communications and Technologies under one vice president, he became administrative assistant to Irvine. He retired in July 1991.
Bergstrom is survived by his wife, Alyce, of Greensboro, N.C.; two sons Kenneth and David; a daughter, Catherine Bauer, and three grandchildren.