Reasons Why YOU Won't Join A Union

Nurses Union

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I'll admit it. I'm not a nurse. I did want to be a nurse at one time, but now Im going the RT route. I researched nursing for a long time before making the decision NOT to become one. Considering the fact that most of you complain (on here at least) of not getting fair treatment, of getting cursed out by doctors/patients, of being overstressed, overworked and not getting they pay you feel you deserve, why oh why won't you join a union? Why do you come here to vent about administration or policies when it doesn't have to be that way? I want to know what makes you feel that you don't deserve to be heard.

Iron workers have a union, boiler-makers have a union, auto workers have a union. Not to sound holier-than-thou-, but most RN have more education than those that I've previously mentioned. So, why is it that you refuse to unite, and stand against a system that seems to disrespect you? I have to know.

SB

I agree with your response about managers needing to manage. But why do the unions have to protect the dead beats? Why can't they work in conjuction to ensure that the lazy ones are dealt with? I think we all know that everyone can be on their best behavior for a little while and then become jaded or the true person comes out. It's a double edge sword when hiring, you need the staff and you try to give the benifit of doubt but then you get stuck. I still think the unions should police their own, after all they are a representaion of the union.

I respect your responce to the regarding the CNA stance on abortion etc. I can hold a different view, but I can not give money knowing this will work against my conviction.

Specializes in LTC & Teaching.
I agree with your response about managers needing to manage. But why do the unions have to protect the dead beats? Why can't they work in conjuction to ensure that the lazy ones are dealt with? I think we all know that everyone can be on their best behavior for a little while and then become jaded or the true person comes out. It's a double edge sword when hiring, you need the staff and you try to give the benifit of doubt but then you get stuck. I still think the unions should police their own, after all they are a representaion of the union.

I respect your responce to the regarding the CNA stance on abortion etc. I can hold a different view, but I can not give money knowing this will work against my conviction.

I totally agree that Unions should be policing their own. I recall that we had one nurse who was one of the worst bullies that I've ever worked with. Because management wouldn't deal with her conduct and labour officials wouldn't represent the workers who were being bullied it created a very toxic work environment. Eventually the other workers started to say that if management isn't going to deal with her and the union isn't going to represent us, then we'll deal with her. This created a mobbing mentality of the other staff and it was now so far out of controll that violence ran wild in that facility. I recall the union president stating that, "we will not help managment discipline one of our own", when questioned why nothing wasn't being done about this bully.

So the unfortunate reality in some cases is that lazy labour officials can actually create and fuel violence in the workplace.

Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.
I totally agree that Unions should be policing their own. I recall that we had one nurse who was one of the worst bullies that I've ever worked with. Because management wouldn't deal with her conduct and labour officials wouldn't represent the workers who were being bullied it created a very toxic work environment. Eventually the other workers started to say that if management isn't going to deal with her and the union isn't going to represent us, then we'll deal with her. This created a mobbing mentality of the other staff and it was now so far out of controll that violence ran wild in that facility. I recall the union president stating that, "we will not help managment discipline one of our own", when questioned why nothing wasn't being done about this bully.

So the unfortunate reality in some cases is that lazy labour officials can actually create and fuel violence in the workplace.

I am very sorry you had to suffer this.

With my union WE would work together to document the events that interfere with our obligation to our patients.

As a group and in writing we would go to all levels of management.

Collective action in unity on the unit and facility level on behalf of our patients would provide an alternative to the "mob mentality".

http://www.nlrb.gov/about_us/overview/national_labor_relations_act.aspx

I've worked at union and non-union hospitals. The character of the nurses and their work ethics were the same at both. I just appreciate that at the union hospital, my rights are protected.

I don't think I exaggerate when I say that if management is looking for something to pin on you, they can find it on any nurse. None of us get our paperwork to a 't' 100% of the time; mostly because we take the time to actually care for our patients. None of us know all the details of all the policies of the hospital. So when management decides to fire you, they find one of these technicalities and give you your walking papers. With a union, management HAS to show just cause.

If there is just cause, then you have no case, and you're gone. But I have seen many times when management had to reverse its decision to discipline or fire a nurse because they could not show that the nurse was worthy of discipline.

In a non-union hospital you are just gone. Period. Call the boss, cry, cajole, give all the reasons you can think of why you should not be fired, it doesn't matter. You are an 'at will' employee and when it suits them, management can dispense with you, no questions asked.

My union, CNA/NNOC protects my job as well as is on the front lines of finding ways to protect my patients. I wouldn't go to work without my union membership!

Specializes in LTC & Teaching.
I've worked at union and non-union hospitals. The character of the nurses and their work ethics were the same at both. I just appreciate that at the union hospital, my rights are protected.

I don't think I exaggerate when I say that if management is looking for something to pin on you, they can find it on any nurse. None of us get our paperwork to a 't' 100% of the time; mostly because we take the time to actually care for our patients. None of us know all the details of all the policies of the hospital. So when management decides to fire you, they find one of these technicalities and give you your walking papers. With a union, management HAS to show just cause.

If there is just cause, then you have no case, and you're gone. But I have seen many times when management had to reverse its decision to discipline or fire a nurse because they could not show that the nurse was worthy of discipline.

In a non-union hospital you are just gone. Period. Call the boss, cry, cajole, give all the reasons you can think of why you should not be fired, it doesn't matter. You are an 'at will' employee and when it suits them, management can dispense with you, no questions asked.

My union, CNA/NNOC protects my job as well as is on the front lines of finding ways to protect my patients. I wouldn't go to work without my union membership!

Sounds like you have a great union. Consider your self lucky. Our bargaining unit has gone through a couple of labour organizations now because the members were fed up with such lousy representation and voted to get rid of the union to switch for what we thought would be a better one. Each time the representation has gotten worse to the point where union officials have actually teamed up with management to get rid of workers they thought would cause ripples in the status quo of ongoing harassment, expoitation, bullying, etc.

Sounds like you have a great union. Consider your self lucky. Our bargaining unit has gone through a couple of labour organizations now because the members were fed up with such lousy representation and voted to get rid of the union to switch for what we thought would be a better one. Each time the representation has gotten worse to the point where union officials have actually teamed up with management to get rid of workers they thought would cause ripples in the status quo of ongoing harassment, expoitation, bullying, etc.

Give CNA/NNOC a call. You too can join the movement that is protecting and empowering nurses and bringing health care justice to the US. http://www.calnurses.org/nnoc/

Specializes in NICU, Peds, ICU/CCU, Cathlb,ER, Flight.

After working for 26 yrs. in a non-union hospital, our nurses want the union in. Unfair firing of older nurses, who are good ones & have dared to speak up. Firing or demoting nurses who have legitimate medical LOA's. People who are outspoken & are fired by 3rd hand stories & lies about them. New grads being hired as Charge nurses,when qualified nurses on that unit have applied. Managers who are sexual predators. Working 3-4 nurses short every shift in a busy ED. Outsiders being hired for jobs that people who are employed in-house applied & are qualified for.

When I worked across town at the union hospital, the nurses were more satisfied. yes, there were some that could not be fired, but that is also true of this non-union corporation hospital with its Catholic dogma. I got a written warning from my mgr. when I asked the administrator in an "open forum", "How can we provide excellent pt. care, when there is no care from this administration for us, including the CNAs, techs, EMTs?"

At this point, is there any other choice???

After working for 26 yrs. in a non-union hospital, our nurses want the union in. Unfair firing of older nurses, who are good ones & have dared to speak up. Firing or demoting nurses who have legitimate medical LOA's. People who are outspoken & are fired by 3rd hand stories & lies about them. New grads being hired as Charge nurses,when qualified nurses on that unit have applied. Managers who are sexual predators. Working 3-4 nurses short every shift in a busy ED. Outsiders being hired for jobs that people who are employed in-house applied & are qualified for.

When I worked across town at the union hospital, the nurses were more satisfied. yes, there were some that could not be fired, but that is also true of this non-union corporation hospital with its Catholic dogma. I got a written warning from my mgr. when I asked the administrator in an "open forum", "How can we provide excellent pt. care, when there is no care from this administration for us, including the CNAs, techs, EMTs?"

At this point, is there any other choice???

Yikes! I am sorry your employer is so dumb. Go to the NNOC site and see if you'd like to join up with us.

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