One Baby Boomer's Life in the Work Force

How is a baby boomer defined? First, they may have grown up and lived in the United States or another westernized nation of the world. Second, time frame is essential. 1946-1964 is the baby boom window with 4 million births each year in the U.S. alone.

However, if the boom years are looked at ideologically the Boomers are 1946-1953 and the Generation Jones is 1954-1965. Many in the Jones window do not consider themselves "baby boomers."

I am in the older group and solidly entrenched as a "baby boomer". No wavering in this camp. I had the extra advantage of being female, for in the U.S. the able bodied male had life changing events looking at him, head on, at the age of eighteen. It was called The Vietnam War.

If you were looking for a job, all persons graduating high school could go into the work force without a resume. Ask for an application, maybe take a high school equivalency test and simple doctor's check up, and you are an 8 to 5er. In a few months you have your own car and the dozens of major events and trends of the day, sweeping you along and obviously, there's no time to reflect. No thoughts of starting over, just build onto what you didn't have. So I joined the work force and stayed and stayed and stayed.

Here is a little scrapbook I put together during my last days at the office. Stuff from my desk. I hope you take a look, enjoy it and have a peek into this baby boomer's lifetime career.

1966

I spent so much time at my job, I thought I wasn't anything else but an employee of the phone company. My survival instinct had kick in and this was my ticket to independence, however in the end, I felt so happy and released when I retired.

Maybe you worked at a big mindless company a long time, raised a family, bought a house, paid your taxes before you even felt the money in your pocket. Oh, I did fun things too, at work and outside of work.

Most of you are a different generation. Be amazed at how technology has advanced. Most everything was battery and ground in the baby boomer's early years.

ID photo upon hiring at Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, August 1966,

Compton CA.

Boomers joined the work force at such companies by the troves. These companies wanted us badly. Ironically, now they are doing everything to get rid of us. My union job allowed me to retire with 18 months free pay! Finally, some joy.

Graduated high school June 1966. Dominguez High School, Compton, CA.

Working at the Phone Company

My early years at the phone company were paper pushing duties and answering 611 repair calls. No computers then. The repair clerk's job was take the trouble from the subscriber (sub) such as no dial tone NDT), bell doesn't ring (BDR), static and can't call out (CCO). Later in the 21st century I was still dealing with phone repairs, but it was billing errors, Caller ID doesn't work, primary interfaces, direct inward dial trunks and video conferencing, to name a few more technical duties.

Here are some pages directly photographed from the scrapbook.

Beginning wage in 1966 was $78.00. I thought I was going to be rich. Above is my wage in 1969 and when I retired in April 2008. I also earned 10% extra for 25 years because I worked the evening shift, thanks to the foresight and work of the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

Directory of new services as of the 20th century.

I spent many hours explaining how Caller ID worked and did not work.

Below is some humor by an ex Pacific Telephone employee. Scott Adams' look into office humor was experienced at PT&T in the early seventies.

I thought I was going to be rich with this advancement.

From 1978-1988 worked in the X-bar switching equipment. Glendale, CA

Also learned 1A, 5ESS and DMS switching software.

Above is a work schedule. For all my years at the phone company I was on a weekend and holiday work schedule with my co-workers. I also worked for 13 months on the night shift. During those months I felt like a zombie.

Beating my drum. I saved some of my accommodations.

This lens is about Route 66 and about my late years at the "phone company". Take a short cruise and explore Colorado Blvd. route of the Rose Parade on New's Year's Day. I Worked at the Steps of Route 66.

I started smiling and ended smiling. That is a good thing, but finally The End.

If you worked for Ma Bell or Verizon (General Telephone) or any telephone company let me know.

The baby boomers will not be called senior citizens. They will be called the Baby Boomers. Haha, you are stuck with us for awhile.