"Just the good old Boys"

All the nurses at our hospital received a letter from our hospital CEO and Vice CEO concering the California Nurses Association/National Nurse Organization Committee.

The letter went mostly like this:

Re: Union Organizers

My Fellow Providence Associates:

Recently, many RNs at Providence Hospital, along with RNs at other hospitals throughout Alabama have been receiving mailers from the California Nurses Association/National Nurse Organization Committee requesting to organize RNs for "collective bargaining." The mailer includes a form for RNs to complete and return to the National Nurse Organization Committee for their union to represent you. Their mass mailings are going out throughout the country.

Providence Hospital wants to let you know the importance of the form or "union authorization card" ...By signing this form, you are agreeing that you want to be represented by the California Nurses Association. This form is not for getting more information about this Union.

A California Nurses Association paid professional salesman, called a "union organizer" or even possible one of your co-workers who has "volunteered" to work for the union, may approach you and ask you to sign a form or union authroization card.

Yoy cannot be pressured for forced to sign a union card. If anyone pressures you to sign a union card against your will, please call HR...or inform you manager. We will see that it is stopped. Remember, you should not sign a union card just to get the person to leave you alone.

....We will continue to work together to imporve the hospital and the care that is given to our patients. We feel this is best achieved through open and direct communication between us that consistant with our values and cultural transformation.....

I WAS HIGHLY INSULTED THAT OUR GOOD OLD BOY NETWORK WOULD THINK NURSES CANNOT MAKE BASIC DECISIONS CONCERNING A UNION. UNIONS IN THE SOUTH ARE SO MUCH NEEDED. THE HOSPITAL LIVES IN THE DARK AGES WHEN IT COMES TO THE WELL BEING OF NURSES GIVING PATIENT CARE.

I HAVE WORKED IN CALIFORNIA AND IT WAS MY EXPERIENCE THAT CALIFORNIA IS ON THE BALL WHEN IT COMES TO NURSE/PATIENT RATIO, MY EXPERIENCE WAS WONDERFUL. THE OLD SAYING 'A FROG THAT LIVES IN A WELL CANNOT TELL YOU ABOUT THE OCEAN" IS SO TRUE IN THIS CASE.

MOST NURSES AT WORKED PUT THE ''LETTER" IN FILE-13, AND MADE COMMENTS OF HOW OUT OF TOUCH THE CEO/HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION IS..

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CEO/HOSPITAL IS UP TOO?