Do we need a union? Management is taking advantage of us.

[Windynurse]

With all the changes in healthcare, management keeps telling us they need to cut back. They have cut back on staffing, supplies, support staff, benefits, raises, etc. Nurses are not getting breaks. New documentation is overwhelming, but our workload has increased. If we say anything, we are told, "we are lucky to have a job."

Has anyone else been through this? There are rumors about a union coming in. If they do, does it help?

Any input would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Windynurse

[nurseinthezoo]

I was among a group of nurses working in a hospital who decided to unionize in 2002. We were represented by the Teamsters. The hospital had no intention of bargaining with us. We set a date for an informational picket in front of the hospital that garnered local news coverage and letters of support published in the local newspaper. About half of the nursing staff supported the union and on November 17, 2002 after working a 12 hour night shift I left my unit and walked out on strike. I never worked in that hospital again.

The Teamster lawyer told us that the hospital administration would, "Come to their senses in a week or two and negotiate a contract." There were even "open-bargaining sessions" where nurses could observe the process. The hospital hired a big-buck lawyer to "negotiate" but his real job was to break the union. The strike was never settled and some nurses, myself included, sought employment elsewhere. Some striking nurses eventually went back to work in the hospital.

Over time the hospital administration did seem to change for the better. As an outsider now looking in, the hospital did achieve magnet status recently. You can't do that with a disgruntled nursing staff.

I am currently employed in a magnet hospital that I first worked at as a travel nurse when I left the old hospital. We don't have a union here and frankly, the administration does a decent job supporting the staff.

If the OP really wants to unionize I would suggest that a good majority of the nurses would be needed to bring the hospital administration to the bargaining table. Also, be prepared to seek employment elsewhere if no contract is negotiated. Ultimately, it's up to you to seek your own happiness. Godspeed, my friend.

[target98765]

This is interesting reading. My place of work is getting bad, but here is a question for you all. I actually work at our "main" hospital as well as an "off site" site. The main hospital and the off site place are in different states. How would this work if you are working at both places and a union attempt is made?

[target98765]

Has anyone here been involved in the union start up? Does a nurse have to call the union to have them come?

[Mindful, RN]

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/news/entry/the-little--union-that-could/

THE LITTLE UNON THAT COULD

Good Luck