The UTU News regularly contacts members at random to report their thoughts on a question of interest to the general membership. This month's question:

Do you discuss union matters with your family?

"I'm a Norfolk Southern yard conductor with about 25 years of experience, and my fiancée happens to be the vice local chairperson, so we do end up discussing union matters at home. We don't always agree, either, because she's from the new school, hiring out after 1985, and I'm from the old school. We don't have heated debates, but we do have quite a few differences. We get together over coffee in the morning with other members of the local and discuss things. She's on the extra board, so sometimes we go two or three days without seeing each other."
-- Mike Berry, L-1620, Elkhart, Ind.

"I hired out in 1972, work as an over-the-road engineer with Union Pacific, and serve as vice local chairperson. It's important for my family to know what's going on, what's affecting me, what problems may arise, and what solutions the UTU is pursuing, because it affects us all. It's important that my wife is informed because she takes a lot of the phone calls. I discuss union matters with her and take her opinions into consideration, but ultimately I make the decision. She comes from a rail family, so that helps. My son is 22, and he's got a good union job, so my experiences have been helpful to him."
-- Harry Lewis, Jr., L-597, Des Plaines, Ill.

"I work for BNSF as a conductor on a road switcher, and I've got almost 32 years in. I'm secretary and treasurer for my local. I've been a union officer for about 25 years. We have three children who are grown and out of the house, so there's just my wife at home now, and I don't discuss things involving the job with her. She has her job and I have mine. In fact, I don't recall even mentioning to her about the pending national contract. About the most my wife knows about the railroad is where the yard office is. I talk about union matters with the guys on the job."
-- Patrick Murray, L-196, Beardstown, Ill.

"I've been a bus operator for 32 years, working charter and line service for Jefferson Bus Lines, and I serve as general chairperson. I'm a bachelor, my parents are no longer living, and I don't think my sister would understand, so I can't say I discuss union matters with my family. But I don't go it alone, either. I might have missed something in the conversation or I might have the wrong viewpoint. I want input before I make a major decision. I ask my vice chairperson and others I work with for their thoughts and advice. The more input I get, the better off I am."
-- Fred Rayman, L-1042, Oklahoma City, Okla.

(Click here to see previous "Voices" columns)