Charlestown
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Book Overview
Charlestown is a fictional story about the plight of Boston Taxi Cab drivers in the early 1980s and their struggle to form a Union as their answer to achieving better earnings and working conditions. Harry Sharpstone, the Union organizer, is dispatched by the Teamster's Union of Chicago to orchestrate this union organization. Conflict, coalitions, and struggle result. Is resolve achieved? Typically, management and unions never achieve a permanent resolve; they just serve as temporary platforms for a truce. The coalitions are the Taxi Cab owners and Taxi Medallion owners who are frequently from Charlestown and the North End and are supported by the enforcement of local Mafia types associated with known racketeer Raymond Patriarca of Providence Mafia fame. Since the issuance of these valuable Taxi Medallions is controlled by Boston Chief of Police Bratton, he may be lending favor to the owners. The other faction is the Taxi Cab Drivers. They are supported by the efforts of the Teamsters, which is ruled by James Hoffa, State Senate President Billy Bulger, who is known to favor the struggle of the blue-collar worker, and Billy's brother, Whitey Bulger, the suspected leader of the Winter Hill Gang and rackets in South Boston. When these two factions clash over the power struggle between the Taxi Cab Medallion owners and the Taxi Cab Drivers, the situation ranges from intense to combustible. Local political and social culture creates a distinct Boston flavor as the story twists turns, and unfolds. Relax and enjoy for as long as you can. You may find yourself sliding to the edge of your seat, not sure how you got there.
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