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Retired Staff Rep John Walker Dies on Labor Day
Retired CWA Representative John V. Walker Sr. died on Sept. 1, Labor Day, after suffering from a lung disorder for many years. He was 80.
CWA's founding President Joe Beirne hired Walker as an organizer in 1951, when Walker was a Western Electric bench and machine operator and a CWA member in Winston-Salem, N.C. Later that year, Walker became a CWA representative serving locals 3060, Winston-Salem, 3061, Burlington, and 3062, Greensboro, N.C.
"He was a good negotiator and a hard worker, who did particularly well with Western Electric grievances," former District 3 Vice President Ben Porch said. Walker also handled grievances with Southern Bell Telephone and AT&T.
In February 1957, he was assigned to the Organizing Department at CWA's Washington, D.C., headquarters. He helped organize Western Electric workers in Kansas City, Mo., and in Chicago.
In 1969, he transferred to the District 3 office in Greensboro, N.C. The following July, he moved to the Norcross, Ga., office, returning to Greensboro two years later.
Walker was assigned to represent Southern Bell members in January 1980, and in December of that year took responsibility for 18 locals throughout North Carolina. He retired in October 1987.
"He was very loyal and dedicated to CWA," said his daughter, Michelle Perches, of The Woodlands, Texas. Walker and his wife Doris moved to The Woodlands in April to be closer to family.
Survivors include another daughter, Linda Smith, of Lakeland, Fla., a son, Tom Walker, of Mitchellville, Md., and 10 grandchildren. Son John V. Jr. preceded Walker in death.
CWA's founding President Joe Beirne hired Walker as an organizer in 1951, when Walker was a Western Electric bench and machine operator and a CWA member in Winston-Salem, N.C. Later that year, Walker became a CWA representative serving locals 3060, Winston-Salem, 3061, Burlington, and 3062, Greensboro, N.C.
"He was a good negotiator and a hard worker, who did particularly well with Western Electric grievances," former District 3 Vice President Ben Porch said. Walker also handled grievances with Southern Bell Telephone and AT&T.
In February 1957, he was assigned to the Organizing Department at CWA's Washington, D.C., headquarters. He helped organize Western Electric workers in Kansas City, Mo., and in Chicago.
In 1969, he transferred to the District 3 office in Greensboro, N.C. The following July, he moved to the Norcross, Ga., office, returning to Greensboro two years later.
Walker was assigned to represent Southern Bell members in January 1980, and in December of that year took responsibility for 18 locals throughout North Carolina. He retired in October 1987.
"He was very loyal and dedicated to CWA," said his daughter, Michelle Perches, of The Woodlands, Texas. Walker and his wife Doris moved to The Woodlands in April to be closer to family.
Survivors include another daughter, Linda Smith, of Lakeland, Fla., a son, Tom Walker, of Mitchellville, Md., and 10 grandchildren. Son John V. Jr. preceded Walker in death.