Automating all that stuff is a huge bite on the bottom too
When they got ESS (Electronic Switching Systems) in the CO(Central Office) we knew our days were numbered.
My favorite telephone company story:
My Dad, a Mr. White, was charged with training a big class of new Affirmative Action Employees who had been hired by New England Telephone as part of a consent Decree with the EEOC.
As he faced the room full of Black Youths who needed to learn Safety and First Aid for their dangerous jobs on the tall utility poles and noxious manholes of Boston, My guileless, affable, and totally innocent-of-racism Daddy faced the class and said:
“Good morning. I will be your instructor for this phase of your training. My name is Mr. White, but you can just call me “Whitey”.”
I swear on my King James Study Bible it’s TRUE!