We have organized our employees and worked out an agreement with our employer for treatment of our members with regards to hours, wages, and work conditions of employment. If you personally believe that this is wrong, please say why rationally and not use assumptions of what we think. Do not put your perceptions of us and our actions as feelings we have. Without the ability of organizing and representing our members, 80 additional fire fighters would now be unemployed.

Until we took Mayor Campbell to court and forced a negotiated settlement, 150 fire fighters were to be layed off. Through our court action we created the opportunity to negotiate a settlement that prevented 80 employees from being terminated. In what way is this entitlement? Where you work,is it your opinion that your employer should be able to dictate to you all terms of your employment? Take it or leave it would be the standard response from management. Slave labor would be in full bloom.

Let us look into the third world and see why many companies are moving operations there: worker's there have an inability to receive any real benefits or protection and the wages offered make it impossible to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families. I know, the Union is evil! We have created the problems of our country. If it were up to you, all unions would be disbanded.

One sided views are what prevent people from coming to compromise, and the inability to look at the viewpoint of another and truly understand their position. Another way to look at the inability seeing another view point and appreciating it is immaturity. In other words, grow up. The City of Cleveland will again be a place where those elected to do the business of this City, and those working for this City work together." from Cool Cleveland reader Bob Fisher, President Local 93, Cleveland Fire Fighters Association Bobfisher1@aol.com

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