EDITOR:
  Talk! Talk! Talk!
  The relationship between the firefighters' union and three city officials has deteriorated to "no talks."
  The mayor has consistently shown favoritism in placing a higher need and value for the police department over the fire department. One commissioner led the charge to reduce fire department strength and found two more votes to do so.
  The local firefighters' morale dropped as they believed they were considered the city's unwanted stepchildren."
  Firefighters in other Kentucky cities filed an overtime lawsuit. The local union filed suit. This didn't sit well with the mayor and two commissioners. They refused to enter into contract talks. An impartial fact-finding board concluded that contract talks should begin. The city refused to abide by the fact-finding board's decision. The firefighters filed suit to let the courts decide the issue.
  Rather than "talk" to the firefighters, the mayor and two commissioners used a city commission meeting as a public forum to talk against the firefighters.
  Isn't it time to start talking to the firefighters?
How do I know?
  As union president many years ago, I never stopped talking. Bill Howerton, Paducah's best city manager, said in effect, keep on talking but I'm not going to open the vault and let you in.
  After winning a referendum, David Denton, Paducah's best corporation counsel ever, said in effect, because you've won the referendum you can talk, but if you want me to listen, be reasonable. We finalized the first firefighter-city working agreement that has lasted over 25 years.
  Isn't it time to start talking again?

GLADMAN C. HUMBLES
Paducah