FBU officials in middle management ?

[firey950]

thoughts ? should they be 'shop floor' employees or are we happy to see them promoted to middle management ?
not a problem or is it too cosy ?

[SoCo]

welcome and great 1st post.

Too cosy for what?

[josephine]

I think it's more of a problem to middle management.

[firey950]

too cosy with senior management as you already guessed

[bill.advanced]

thoughts ? should they be 'shop floor' employees or are we happy to see them promoted to middle management ?
not a problem or is it too cosy ?

God am I confused.
Who are they, who are we, who is getting promoted, why is it not a problem, who is cosy, and why are they cosy. Sorry if I sound flippant I'm just confused by your post.

[SoCo]

are all senior management monsters or something?

I'm not sure what you're getting at.

[Dirty Harry]

I remember Tam Tierney from Region 1. Station officer(I think) but great union guy

[bill.advanced]

I remember Tam Tierney from Region 1. Station officer(I think) but great union guy

Unfortunately Tam is no longer with us. ( he was a station officer)
Tam was an ardent Celtic supporter.
A new recruit came into our watch at cowcaddens he seemed very intelegent, confident, and very much in the trade union mould.
I phoned Tam at the east fire station one night to see if we could get him on to the list for the weekend school at Stirling. Tam asked me how long is he in. I said about a year, tam said don't be daft he's only a recruit, it may affect his prospects getting involved with union at this stage.
I pushed him as best I could, he relented and agreed that this new guy could go, to Stirling for the weekend school.

But then I slipped up, I told him his brother used to play for Celtic, the penny dropped.
Tam said do you mean Mark McGhee, I could tell by his tone I had fecked up.
Well tam was not a Mark McGhee fan, and this very capable intelegent confident guy I rated then and still do, John McGhee never went to Stirling.
He did ok though.

[oilypaws]

The union isnt JUST for Firefighters.....i've spent time on the picket lines with DO's ( I, II, & III) one of which took great pride (and still does) in wearing his 25 year badge

[bill.advanced]

Rank has got nothing to do with being a trade union member.
I was encouraged by my station officer to continue as a branch official when I was having a hard time. He himself was a keen FBU member who attended all our meetings on and off duty.
We always respected his position, and he ours.
There is nothing wrong in my opinion with a CFO being an FBU member, but unfortunately the powers at be, and the type of individuals who are attracted to these positions are unlikely to have such a mindset. I even beleive that membership of the FBU would bar you from ever becoming a CFO.
We had an assistant firemaster in Strathclyde who remained an FBU member. Although he never got involved in any industrial action, or meetings etc.
During the 2002 dispute we stood alongside DOS and ADOS who although like myself were not supportive of that dispute, stood by their trade union and came out with us.
I had much respect for these men, they knew they were damaging their careers by taking industrial action, but they had principles that would not allow them to do otherwise.
You may not like at times what your union does, but I beleive if you are a member you should always do what the union voted for, or leave the union if you feel you cannot.