INCREDIBLE CNA/NNOC victory in Houston.

Nurses Union

Published

I'm posting this fast, and don't yet have all the details, but here is what I do know:

CNA just won a representation election for the RNs at Cypress Fairbanks Hospital, a part of the Tenet chain in Houston Texas.

Other than a small number of RNs employed by the federal government, this represents the first unionized nurses in the entire state a very tough organizing environment. It is the first major fruits of a three year statewide campaign.

The election was run under an organizing agreement won at the bargaining table by Tenet nurses in California.

Don't yet have numbers or other details, will make a second post when I do. I've met some of these Texas nurses and they are just the greatest. This is only the first of many organizing victories to come in this state.

Specializes in Med/Surg; Orthopedics; Geriatrics; L&D.
And tonight, one more group of Texas nurses go union - Rio Grande Medical Center in McAllen. Nurses voted to join NNOC. More expected soon - very soon.

Get your facts straight--we are Rio Grande Regional Hospital, McAllen, TX, and many are already regretting their pro-union votes because they didn't do their homework first. The hospital was placed under the equivilant of a gag-order, so all the employees were exposed to were the propaganda lies that the union fed them. Had only 13 of them with regrets voted the other way, we would have survived their assault. Don't be so smug in how well-received they were, because almost full half of us were adamently against--and I helped count the votes that evening. I could tell by the manner in which many of the ballots were marked that many of the ones that were against had very strong feelings. By contrast, I didn't see any of the pro-union votes marked with such vigor. Don't get me wrong: what they promise sounds good on the surface, but with strikes, aand fines if you go against them, it's not as rosy as they make it sound. Not to mention if a member ever gets black-balled, it's the career-equivalent of suicide.

Specializes in Med/Surg; Orthopedics; Geriatrics; L&D.
I don't EVER want to work at a non-union hospital again. Glad for my contract. Glad for my protections. Glad for my benefits and pay.

Protections? A nurse giving proper care needs no 'protections'. I have always gotten excellent benefits and pay and the door to my director and my CNO, etc, have always been open to me. I'm sorry, but all nurses should be encouraged to do their best every time they are doing their job. I feel that the false sense of security provided by unions breeds complacency and a MDR attitude (minimum daily requirement). I'm sorry but nursing has never been a get-rich-quick scheme. I knew what my hospital was paying when I signed on, they pay generous bonuses and incentives, they do regular cost of living/market analysis to make sure we are making comparable pay. Everything is clearly defined. If things were truly bad there, I would have moved on long before now. There is nothing the union offesr that I don't already either have or have something comparable or better.

Specializes in Med/Surg; Orthopedics; Geriatrics; L&D.
I think why some people have the attitude displayed by Nancy2 is that they are one of the chosen few , who get what they want , at the cost of everyone else and they know they will not be able to wheel and deal so easily in the future , so rather than lose the little individual power they have , they work against others achieving collective bargaining.

On a corporate level , I cannot understand how these individual nurses think they can bring about systemic change to the corporation , even they have to work collectively ,to gain evidence for any change proposed and have any hope of having that change implemented .

"Chosen few"?!? No, as nurses, we are obligated to speak up for our patients. Yet, I have seen how many, instead of speaking up for themselves, sit back passive-aggressively stewing and do not speak up for themselves. OF COURSE they get nothing this way. And I'm supposed to pay for them to have someone represent them?!? It's not a chosen few issue, they need to stand up and speak for themselves instead of hiding behind some union! These unions have convinced them that the only way they can have a voice is to let someone else do the talking. And the unions have their own agendas, political, etc that the union dues will be spent on regardless of the beliefs of the individual members. I can effectively speak for myself and my money is better spend where I see fit. I don't need some third-party inserting themselves between myself and my employer and telling me they know more about what is good for me than I do.

Specializes in Med/Surg; Orthopedics; Geriatrics; L&D.
I could care less what your identity is, and I do not work for CNA or any other union.

I was merely trying to figure out who burned you so bad that you are now so vehemently opposed to any kind of collective bargaining by nurses.

Unions are one tool for workers to organize and attempt to gain input into their working situation. But, they are only 1 tool. I hope this is deeper than a "rejection of all men because you got burned in a past relationship."

Forrester, if unions were merely a 'tool' I don't think they would be making such a gross profit in this equation. Unionization is a concept that has outlived its usefulness. Long-gone are the sweatshops and child labor--the abhorrent conditions-- of yesteryear. Now it merely exists to perpetuate itself. Unions were the undoing of the American auto industry, and have been instrumental in the demise of our postal system. I am convinced that the average nurse that is pro-union truly believes it to be a good. However, I believe they have fully bought-into the propaganda that the unions have fed them. Does that make them bad or stupid? NO. But they're not getting out of it nearly what they are putting into it and thier money is going towards things they may or may not support.

Specializes in pediatrics.

unions have nothing to offer nurses other than paying dues. vlynnieg, thanks goodness we live in texas and don't have to pay their dues. i hate that your hospital is unionized. just more empty promises. just encourage your fellow nurses to not pay thier dues. this alone might cause them to think differently about being there! ft worth nurses support you!!!!

Specializes in Med/Surg; Orthopedics; Geriatrics; L&D.

thank you, syndromal65, I truly hate the way these outsiders have come in and caused such divisiveness amonst my collegues. All in the name of 'bringing us together' (under their thumb!) My gut says that it will eventually go away, but it may be a long and rough storm before it blows over.

Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.
Protections? A nurse giving proper care needs no 'protections'. I have always gotten excellent benefits and pay and the door to my director and my CNO, etc, have always been open to me. I'm sorry, but all nurses should be encouraged to do their best every time they are doing their job. I feel that the false sense of security provided by unions breeds complacency and a MDR attitude (minimum daily requirement). I'm sorry but nursing has never been a get-rich-quick scheme. I knew what my hospital was paying when I signed on, they pay generous bonuses and incentives, they do regular cost of living/market analysis to make sure we are making comparable pay. Everything is clearly defined. If things were truly bad there, I would have moved on long before now. There is nothing the union offesr that I don't already either have or have something comparable or better.

I am very glad your employer has been respectful to nurses.

Unfortunately that is not always the case.

Here ar a few discussions and one article. Many nurses love their community and their colleagues. They choose to work to maintain or achieve safe, effctive nursing standards than leave the patients to those who don't care.

ICY rNs fird for refusing an unsafe assignment. https://allnurses.com/nursing-news/fired-nurses-protest-230712.html

Anita Prinz, from outside Houston, told of nurses having to care for a dozen hospital patients at once.

Tom Laughlin, from the Dallas area, said he frequently has to choose which critically ill patient to care for and which to leave alone for a few minutes. There were sad anecdotes about unattended patients falling, unnecessary deaths, and overworked nurses leaving the profession. - http://www.texasobserver.org/archives/item/15598-2988-political-intelligence-dying-for-nurses

https://allnurses.com/nursing-news/tx-nurses-facing-408891.html

https://allnurses.com/nursing-activism-healthcare/fired-being-pregnant-278468.html

https://allnurses.com/nursing-news/washington-hospital-center-459176.html

https://allnurses.com/texas-nurses/group-one-background-108647.html

Specializes in pediatrics.

You're right. Not all hospitals treat their employees well and this is fact, but don't tell me how non union nurses are sub standard, unwilling to speak out or otherwise inferior to unionized nurses. Don't tell me how the state I live in is inferior because we don't choose to unionize or are RTW. Trust me, if we didn't like where we work we would change it or leave for greener pastures. I don't need a paid mouthpiece to tell me what I need or how much i need to be paid or if i have a good pension or other benefits, or that I need to strike. Unions have their place but don't shove them down our throats.

Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.
You're right. Not all hospitals treat their employees well and this is fact, but don't tell me how non union nurses are sub standard, unwilling to speak out or otherwise inferior to unionized nurses. Don't tell me how the state I live in is inferior because we don't choose to unionize or are RTW. Trust me, if we didn't like where we work we would change it or leave for greener pastures. I don't need a paid mouthpiece to tell me what I need or how much i need to be paid or if i have a good pension or other benefits, or that I need to strike. Unions have their place but don't shove them down our throats.

Of course most non union nurses provide the best possible care for their patients. That is why nurses are the #1 trusted profession. And most of us are not in a union.

And of course all union nurses aren't better than nurses at other facilities. Some try to do just the minimum.

My union representatives don't speak for RNs. They listen. And they have represented good nurses disciplined for patient advocacy.

No state is inferior. I am from Oklahoma. I hear Texans think Okies are so dumb we think macaroni and cheeze is a vegetable. ;)

Still nowadays all too many good hospitals are bought by big corporations that put profits over patient care and have no respect for nursing work. The nurses at these facilities can choose whether to join a union.

After I'd workd at my hospital nearly 20 years it was purchased by UniHealth America. One day the new director laid off 1/2 the RNs on two units and replaced them with people from dietary and housekeeping who had never chosen patient care. They got a BLS class and one day with an RN. 25% of our pharmacists were let go the same day. This cause RNs to be assigned up to 16 patients.

And they wondered why so many medications were being given late.

We organized for our patients and our community. We didn't have to strike. RNs on those units are never assigned more than four patients. At the time I wouldn't have, but now I know more and would strike to save our hospital.

I wish you the best. Thank you for an honest expression of your thoughts and feelings.

Get your facts straight--we are Rio Grande Regional Hospital, McAllen, TX, and many are already regretting their pro-union votes because they didn't do their homework first. The hospital was placed under the equivilant of a gag-order, so all the employees were exposed to were the propaganda lies that the union fed them. Had only 13 of them with regrets voted the other way, we would have survived their assault. Don't be so smug in how well-received they were, because almost full half of us were adamently against--and I helped count the votes that evening. I could tell by the manner in which many of the ballots were marked that many of the ones that were against had very strong feelings. By contrast, I didn't see any of the pro-union votes marked with such vigor. Don't get me wrong: what they promise sounds good on the surface, but with strikes, aand fines if you go against them, it's not as rosy as they make it sound. Not to mention if a member ever gets black-balled, it's the career-equivalent of suicide.

There are a few false statements in the above, nurses had plenty of chances to hear both sides. I was there voluntering for our union for 5 days. I was in numerous break rooms and every one had numerous pieces of anti-union literature posted prominently.

Also there is no such thing as being "lblackballed" and no one has ever been fined by this union - that's another standard union buster myth

Specializes in ER, ICU, Administration (briefly).

Not all master's beat their slaves either, but that had nothing to do with the fact that slavery was wrong. These facilities, and this industry, has had more than enough indirect and direct evidence that what they were doing in the name of profits was wrong- wrong for the nurses and wrong for the patients. Hence, we have a nursing shortage and the IOM report.

These people opposed to unions may indeed have a personal reason for opposing them- not all unions have been effective. It is particularly hard to hold one together when the reources of the institution are constantly seeking to undermine them. These oppositionists are short sighted however. A union is only as effective as its members are vigilant.

The facts are plain however. Unions remain the best voice to represent nurses as long as the political forces in the "industry" are so disproportionately empowered. Obviously, the appeal in the name of patient safety has fallen on deaf ears. Obviously, many facilities could care less about the impact on nurses. SO, unions are about the only refuge for nurses the way the healthcare system has been constructed.

Now, we could have a discussion about what is the most effective type of union. A NATIONAL union is in the making, and nurses can support this effort simply by joining in their efforts (I know, a whole $30 per year!). This body is going after state and federal laws- a potentially much better strategy than slugging it out in all 50 states facility by facility.

Nursing needs to grow up, recognize the power imbalance, start having crucial conversations, and begin the nursing reformation of health care in the U.S.. Nurses need to pull their heads out of the sand, shrug off the history of oppression, recognize their collective (and only collective) political power, search out their history, and reconnect to the social activism evident in that history at the beginning.

Now, back to the issue of nursing "leadership".

Specializes in Med/Surg; Orthopedics; Geriatrics; L&D.
There are a few false statements in the above, nurses had plenty of chances to hear both sides. I was there voluntering for our union for 5 days. I was in numerous break rooms and every one had numerous pieces of anti-union literature posted prominently.

Also there is no such thing as being "lblackballed" and no one has ever been fined by this union - that's another standard union buster myth

Chico David: I am not in the habit of making false statements. I am stating what I saw with my own eyes and what I have heard from my peers with my own ears. The anti-union postings were there from anti-union staff nurses, myself included. The administration was under a virtual gag order, because it was in the union's best interest for them to be.

Look, the bottom line is that you are obviously pro-union and you will never see any merit in anything that any of the rest of us think or feel if it is contrary to what you and your union push. I do not support the union because I do not feel that it offers anything that I don't already have or better. I am not going to pay a third party to step between myself and my employer when I have a good working relationship with the organization I am employed by.

PS. Sad statement about you that you took the time and trouble to be at my facility for five days and can't be bothered to know the name of our facility.

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