The following article was written by Lew Stone, the Secretary-Treasurer for the California Professional Firefighters, for the members of the CPF.  I think it is a relevent message for our members as well. He gave me permission to share it with you. 

Nights at the Kitchen Table
In the fire service, the kitchen table is where the world’s issues are solved, along with most departmental and union problems.  
Going back as far as most can remember, firefighters have gravitated to this long, rectangular table to engage in camaraderie and relax. Stories are told, including those from the old captain who recalls the same fire for the tenth time. It is where a small amount of information can be extrapolated into an indisputable set of facts regarding negotiations or the kangaroo court which has disciplined an innocent member.  

Why do I write about this? Because the culture of the kitchen table creates many frustrating situations for your union leadership.  

During negotiations, a member of the negotiating team must sit there as others hypothesize on why the city isn’t giving them the 10 percent raise they so richly deserve. The negotiators simply cannot divulge information or it greatly hampers what takes place during negotiations. It is amazing how quickly something said accidentally from a negotiator can filter back to the other side and potentially destroy any leverage the union had.  

Discipline matters are always entertaining at the kitchen table. Often, a union president must sit there as each firefighter takes turns bashing the chief for “coming down hard” on a member with a substance problem. Neither the union president, nor the chief, can tell the true story – confidentiality prevented either of them from saying a word, when in fact, the chief has gone out of his way to help the member return to work and complete a successful career.  
Perhaps more frustrating is the disciplined member who carefully explained how his union representation did not fully invoke the nuances of the Firefighters’ Bill of Rights in his defense, when the reality was that the union had fought hard to have the proposed discipline reduced. But the union rep has to “let it go” as part of the tremendously rewarding task of representing the ungrateful member.

These days, the buzzword around the table is “transparency.”
When it comes to the two subjects above, many members believe that transparency demands that they know everything. It doesn’t! It means that when the union’s negotiators reach a tentative agreement, then they can bring it back to the troops for a ratification vote. That’s when the open discussion takes place – at the union meeting, not the kitchen table. On discipline rulings, it’s up to the member. If he or she wants to tell their twenty closest friends, then so be it, but you won’t hear it from the union. Or at least you shouldn’t.  

If you want to end frustration and get the most accurate information in a timely fashion, attend the union meeting. If you hear a rumor, go to the source. Contact your union and get clarification from them, then go back to the kitchen table and help your union by setting the story straight.  
But, in reality, it probably won’t be nearly as entertaining as the fictional account.