Just another comment about the union attacks of Topeka Fire Chief Howard Giles.

The Union has listed a number of reasons why it says it will settle for nothing less than Chief Giles fired or resigning.

But make no mistake, there is really only one reason the Union is taking this “all or nothing” stance—it cannot abide a Chief selected by any other criteria but seniority. And it wants union-backed seniority to be the ONLY criteria for promotion and advancement in the department. The Union must have a Chief selected from its union ranks if it is to continue to justify the union to its membership—and keep them as members.

It is that Union-only, Union-lead approach that given us the current state of the American auto industry. The argument doesn’t work for cars. It should not work for the Topeka Fire Department.

I’m interested in what you think. Head to wibw.com and click on the Kansas Voices link. You can post your opinion there for all to see. Or you can write me directly at jim.ogle@wibw.com.