Rest in Peace Ed Baxter, Jr
Sept 29, 1940-June 28, 2025 (Arrangements below)
It’s with a heavy heart that we share the news that Ed Baxter Jr, former CWA Local 1101 Chief Steward and retired CWA District 1 Staff Representative passed away on June 28.
Ed was a lineman in the Army Signal Corps. He began his Ma Bell career as an Installer for Western Electric in 1962, where he became a Shop Steward. He transferred to New York Telephone and was a Frameman in Tiebout Ave, became a Splicers Helper, returned to Tiebout Ave as a Panel and Carrier Switchman, and went to Bronx Construction in 1976.
Ed was Chief Steward for Tiebout/Kingsbridge Central Offices in 1970. A NY Generator article in 1984 reported “his wars with management there were legendary. Like the 400 grievances he had to put in the first week after the 1971-72 strike”.
Ed was sent to Empire City Subway, which needed a strong union hand at the time, and he became Chief Steward there. Val Valentino, a close friend of Ed’s and retired CWA Local 1101 Business Agent, was a steward in the Bronx. He remembers meeting Ed in the early 70’s when Ed was Bronx Chief at ECS. “He took me under his wing and taught me so much,” Val said. “He was the Chief at Empire City and he had that shop clamped down like you wouldn’t believe. He helped a lot of Chiefs. He taught us how to sit grievances. One thing I remember he always said - ‘never box a manager in a corner with no way out. You’ll never resolve anything like that’. He always had time to teach you. He was really a very kind and caring man.”
Ed was instrumental in organizing new members into the Union, helping lead the drives that brought 5000 Traffic (Operators), 9000 Commercial (Reps) and Accounting workers at New York Telephone into CWA in the mid-80’s. That organizing inspired 14,000 NY Tel workers in District 13 (PA) to join CWA as well. Ed became a CWA District 1 Staff Representative around 1986. During his many years at District 1 Ed represented workers from numerous Locals including 1101, 1102 and 1105 in bargaining, grievances and arbitrations. Ed retired from CWA District 1 in 2017.
“Ed helped me a lot when I first became the Chief of Bronx Galvo,” Keith Purce, CWA 1101 President said. “He was the Staff Rep for Local 1101, among other locals, at the time. He was always looking to protect our members as much as possible, and he was up for a fight when we needed to fight. It was always a pleasure talking to Eddie, he was a wealth of knowledge and a great Union leader!”
Ed was coach of the College Point Road Runners track club and an avid runner and marathoner. He and his wife Pat had five children and 11 grandchildren.
Ed’s son Mike Baxter is CWA Local 1101 Vice President Northern. “My father was always proud to be a member of Local 1101 and a Representative for CWA. His work with ECS and Local 1105 were among his most cherished memories. He was a proud father and grandfather who was always willing to help anyone in need.”
