New national nurses union forms

Nurses Union

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PICUPNP

269 Posts

We can go back and forth until the cows come home, but forced unionism is just that..period. There should be NO such thing as a closed shop. It should be the employees decision as to whether or not to join.

As

PICUPNP

269 Posts

As to the strongest union ever knocking on our door, I welcome it! I know that they won't find a permanent home here because we are lucky enough to live in a state where unions don't have the power to force employees to pay their ridiculous dues. So please come to Texas, we would love to show you the path back home.

tewdles, RN

3,156 Posts

Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

I am still thinking that nurses looking for work still have a choice about unions. Just like me they can always choose to work for the non-union shop, there are plenty of them around.

nicurn001

805 Posts

Specializes in Psych , Peds ,Nicu.
we can go back and forth until the cows come home, but forced unionism is just that..period. there should be no such thing as a closed shop. it should be the employees decision as to whether or not to join. my highlighting .

as

there is the crux of the issue , the employees did have a choice which was reflected in the nlrb overseen democratic election of nurses at the facility . at which point the anti union nurses had the opportunity to stop the closed shop being formed , in this knowledge it is incumbant upon them to get out their vote to stop the union from being elected into the facility .

the burden of the dues ( as you see it ) are more than covered by the improvement in pay and conditions that the nurse will see when the first contract is ratified . until that first contract is ratified the nurses at the facility do not pay dues ( at least in the union i am used to ) so there is no loss of income at any time to that nurse .

your argument is spurious because , as you have stated on this or other threads you are willing to accept the fruits of union efforts ( 40 hr. week , health and safety at work issues etc.) , but because they have the temerity to deduct dues for there sevices , from the improved pay that nurses at a facility ( so that even after the dues are taken from your pay , you are still better off financially ) , it's forced unionism .

so yes we may go back and forth until the cows come home , because we are talking of the principle that if we are involved in a democratic vote , then we should be prepared to work for our cause , but that when that vote has occurred we should act in accordance with the result , then if we do not like the result work for that result to be changed by a future vote .but in the meantime fulfill our obligation to democracy and the terms of employment at the facility we work at , by paying our dues once the first contract has been ratified , in this there is no actual financial loss to the nurse involved ,only a potential financial loss ie. the difference between what the full pay increase is and what the nurse recieves minus dues ( but it is highly unlikely you would have got that pay increase at your non unionized facility , unless the unionized hospital down the road had just negotiated better pay for their members , in which case , because you don't like paying dues you would probably go to work for them ).

PICUPNP

269 Posts

This is not about democracy. This is about whether or not there should be closed shops AKA FORCED UNIONISM. Its not forced unionism because of dues, benefits, etc....its because the nurses are forced to join a ridiculous union in order to be employed.

Do you think that only unionized facilities get pay raises now? No union facilities in the metroplex. I've actually recieved 2 pay raises this year and all that without union interference...Holy cow..how did it happen that a non union facility got 2 pay raises for their nurses without a union?

I think its totally ridiculous that unions have pertuated a scam throughout the nursing community in that the unions are invaluable and that nurses have no chances of any benefits or protection from the evil adminstrations without them. Thankfully, Texas nurses, on the whole, are smarter than to fall into that type of trap. We are able to speak for ourselves, negotiate raises for ourselves, and still manage to be advocates for our patients without the unions forcing themselves on us. If only we could push through RTW legislation in all 50 states, the unions wouldn't exist. That would be the cherry on top!

PICUPNP

269 Posts

I'm not management but i am ANTI UNION. I work 3 -12s a week and provide patient care, and have intention of being a manager. I am anti-union and will continue to espouse my opinions here just as everyone else. I love it.

allnurses Guide

herring_RN, ASN, BSN

3,651 Posts

Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

the absurdly named "right to work" laws have nothing to do with creating or providing jobs.

a right to work law does not guarantee any right to "work".

it does not stop an employer from firing you for no stated reason.

Heogog53

200 Posts

Specializes in CCU, OR.

Let me ask a question or two in regards to the protection that a union shop and stewards could offer nurses who got hurt at work and get harassed by superiors to go on disability or quit or something- just get the ()*) out of their work place because of having to fight with Workman's Comp for over three years to get proper treatment, missing a great deal of work because of said injury, and finally, after getting terrorized by too many people, signs up with an attorney(a step that was wanted to be avoided til the last minute) and VOILA!!!, after 3 years with an incompetent doc, ends up with a competent doc...

Could the union stewards/reps(pardon my lack of proper protocol) have intervened earlier for that employee? This is a real situation with a hypothetical answer, obviously.

I live in a right to work state, have been struggling with W.C. for over three years, and am likely to be stuck into some idiot job when I return to my institution, the better to drive me out over the sheer idiocy of what they had me doing before this PT rehab program came open to me.....and not be able to actually get a job that suits my skills.....What could a union do for someone like that?

As I said, real situation, hypothetical answers. I'd be happy to line up at the front door and present a bouquet to any union that would help represent MY needs(and obviously, those of other workers in my position).

Thank you for reading this and hopefully can use this as an illustration of what real good a union can do for such a messed up situation.

Hoozdo, ADN

1,555 Posts

Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

It's kind of ironic this meeting was held in Phoenix. There is only one union shop in all of Phoenix and it's at the Federal VA Hospital. Sadly, AZ is a "right to work" state. Management in all hospitals want to keep it that way.

I would vote union in a New York minute. I have not had a 30 minute lunch break since I left the VA Hospital 3 years ago. Well, maybe a few, but definitely less than 10 lunch breaks. That's in 3 years people.

I have had decent staffing due to working ICU. Unfortunately, I often end up with 4 patients though since we cover rapid response and codes.

All hospitals in AZ are like this. If you mention the word "union", you will be terminated. It is almost impossible to organize due to this attitude.

It's kind of ironic this meeting was held in Phoenix. There is only one union shop in all of Phoenix and it's at the Federal VA Hospital. Sadly, AZ is a "right to work" state. Management in all hospitals want to keep it that way.

I would vote union in a New York minute. I have not had a 30 minute lunch break since I left the VA Hospital 3 years ago. Well, maybe a few, but definitely less than 10 lunch breaks. That's in 3 years people.

I have had decent staffing due to working ICU. Unfortunately, I often end up with 4 patients though since we cover rapid response and codes.

All hospitals in AZ are like this. If you mention the word "union", you will be terminated. It is almost impossible to organize due to this attitude.

Actually, I don't think it's ironic, so much as an intentional serving of notice that organizing is coming to Arizona. (Of course the fact that a lot of people at the meeting came from places like Minnesota and Massachusetts and wanted someplace warm to meet may have played a part.) CNA/NNOC has has a couple of relatively near misses on organizing elections in Arizona in the last few years, including one in Flagstaff and at least one in Phoenix area. So it's not impossible to organize there, just a little more difficult. Success will come in time. You may get a chance to vote union sooner than you think.

RN4MERCY

328 Posts

Specializes in ICU/CCU/TRAUMA/ECMO/BURN/PACU/.

I'm just wondering if there is any direct care RN left out there who might be unsure about the benefits of belonging to the largest all RN union and professional association in the country? The formation of National Nurses United is really positive and significant news for the profession of nursing and the patients we serve. NNU was founded by RN organizations throughout the country who want to pursue to pursue a more powerful agenda of collective patient advocacy that promotes the interests of patients, direct care nurses, and RN professional practice.

Of course we advocate for our patients everyday at the bedside, but in these times it's really important that our strong, collective and unified voice as advocates is heard in the state and federal legislatures. Together we will be working to secure passage of state and national legislation for RN staffing ratios and other basic protections for RNs and patients, and meaningful healthcare reform based on a single excellent standard of care for all. Also we will stand united to expose and block hospital industry efforts to undermine RN professional practice in legislatures, regulatory agencies, boards of nursing and at the bedside.

In a nutshell that means we're fighting for "RATIOS, RIGHTS, AND REPRESENTATION". It's not a dream, it's legislation that was introduced last May by Senator Barbara Boxer: S1031 "The National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act". Nurses can read all about it here.

Legislative Purpose

To address the nationwide shortage of hospital direct-care registered nurses; provide minimum safe patient protection standards — such as safe staffing ratios — for short-term and long-term acute-care hospitals in the United States; protect direct care registered nurse as patient advocate, create registered nurse education grants, and living stipends to recruit and retain direct-care registered nurses.

To create a hospital nursing service environment that will immediately attract new RNs and provide the foundation for ultimate restoration of the hospital direct RN workforce; and

To establish clearly defined, legally protected and enforceable duties and rights to direct-care registered nurses as advocates exclusively for the interests of patients.

Whistleblower protections that encourage patients, RNs and other healthcare workers to notify government and private accreditation entities of suspected unsafe patient conditions that will greatly enhance the health, welfare, and safety of patients.

The essential principles of staffing in the acute-care hospital settings must be based on patient’s individual acuity and needs; severity of conditions; services needed; and complexity surrounding those services.

It's a beautiful thing, and it's about time!
Home Health Columnist / Guide

NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN

10 Articles; 18,280 Posts

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

lets cut the personal fingerpointing out....

surely as professionals we can discuss topics without namecalling and divisive posting ---best debaters never loose their cool......

nor violate our terms of service .

thread closed for review after i get some shuteye.

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