Minnesota union leader Shorty McMullen

Marcellus (Shorty, Butch) McMullen of Edina, a retired leader of Local 7200 of the Communications Workers of America who helped unions make great strides in Minnesota 40 years ago and was a leader in AFL-CIO union organizations, died of respiratory failure Saturday. He was 80.

After graduating from DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis in the late 1940s and serving in the Army in Korea, he joined the old Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., working as a lineman. He later maintained business telephone networks, principally for the old Sears store on Lake Street.

From the 1970s to the mid-'80s, he was second vice president of Local 7200 and was co-chairman with Tim Lovaasen of the union's legislative arm.

They lobbied legislators to bring increased benefits and protections to labor.

Lovaasen, a former president of Local 7200, said they were particularly proud of their role in stemming the practice of phone company managers monitoring operators and service representatives without the workers' knowledge.

While the legislation was narrowly defeated, Lovaasen said their efforts led to some rules about the practice in labor contracts.

"He was a personable guy, who got us in the door, and we could explain" the union's position to legislators, Lovaasen said.

Dave Roe, retired president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, said McMullen was key in making the political arm of the CWA a "formidable organization," bringing changes in workers' compensation, unemployment compensation and the minimum wage at the Legislature.

McMullen supported an illegal teachers' strike in the early 1970s, knowing success would lead to public employees' unions with the power to bargain collectively, Roe said.

"He was a true trade unionist," Roe said. "He was always there, in whatever capacity they expected him to perform."

His son, Marcellus, of St. Francis, Minn., recalled McMullen's early days as a shop steward, when he would run out in the middle of night to help fellow workers.

Some had alcohol problems, and he would advise them "and help them to save their jobs," his son said.

After retiring in the 1980s, he worked as a union liaison for what is now United Health Care. He moved to Darwin, Minn., and served as commander of the Disabled American Veterans in Hutchinson, Minn., and was active in the Lions' Club.

He returned to the Twin Cities five years ago.

In addition to Marcellus, he is survived by his wife of 58 years, Pat (Katherine), of Edina; his other sons, Tim, of Delano, Mike, of Bloomington, Patrick, of Richfield, Kevin, of Minneapolis, and Terry, of St. Paul; daughters, Jean Diaz, of Edina, and Barb Gardetto, of Big Lake; sisters Rita Moran, of St. Paul and Jean McInerny of New Berlin, Wis., and 22 grandchildren.