Sympathy strike...would you do it??

Nurses Union

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I belong to a very strong union who is very opinionated. I don't always agree with their stance on things. There is another union who is striking for possible benefit take-aways...I don't know the true details of what is being proposed to them...because it isn't my union. This other union is NOT a nurse's union. ( I am in a nurse's union)

Our union recently got an EXCELLENT contract passed that starts now and expires in 2014. We had no take-aways at all and excellent pay increases and even a bonus. Our union is telling us we should honor the other union's picket line for a one-day strike in Sept...and even though we have a great contract now, we will be next on the chopping block! (their opinion)

I have a hard time agreeing that we should have a sympathy strike like this when I am completely satisfied with my contract and the employer. Our contract states there is to be NO stop in work or lock-outs. The union says there is a state law that protects us if we have a sympathy strike. The union also believes we won't be locked out if we only strike for ONE day...how do they know?? I feel they are going against our contract if they strike. We are being told to not come to work that day, even if we aren't actually picketing.

What would you do? I am thankful I have a job in this economy!

Specializes in Cardiac.

That's dumb. I vote you should definitely go to work.

First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Those scheduled for work should work, the others can picket with the other union. The problem with organisations is they put their own survival ahead of that of thier members.

Keep in mind that The Pilgrims weren't team players. The Nazis were.

If it were me I'd just go with my heart because I know my heart is good.

-Joe

I never worked in a union- and would not move to a state where that was an issue- just my preference. If I didn't like the benefits laid out on being offered a job, I was free to go elsewhere- and if I got sick of the place, I was history :)

Specializes in Critical Care.

What union do you belong to that got such a good contract? Ours just gives more away with each contract! They just want our union dues 1+%. If they fight management's take back, don't worry next contract they give in and its taken away! They even agreed to a stupid clinical ladder with a demotion/pay cut clause added in! Are you kidding me! This is the only job I've ever been where they give you a raise one minute and then threaten to take it away ever after. Unbelievable! and we have a union even worse!

They gave up the right to petition, protest, picket; they never striked. Oh instead they have labor/management "meetings" where they go round and round over issues which rarely benefit us. It's like having a company union and being forced to pay for it! Very demoralizing! Of course management feels free to violate the contract we do have and when the labor/management meetings go nowhere, a grievance is filed and maybe a year later management either caves and says oh yes you're right we shouldn't do that or finally an arbitrator makes a ruling in our favor. Don't worry though, management will just take that right away in the next contract.

Last contract they were having a "safety" committee formed about safety, need for lift equipment,etc. So far nothing has been done whatsoever! Oh excuse me, I forgot they did give us these "garbage" bag sheets to use to move people, doesn't cost anything I guess, of course they don't really work either! How practical to move someone back and forth onto the garbage sheet, boost them, then move them back and forth to take them off them! When you have 300-400+ pound patients just turning them back and forth can break your back. Are you kidding me!

Told I should write a letter to my manager asking for lift equipment, then I should file a grievance when it doesn't happen! What's the point of a union, who asked for the safety committee in the first place and knows very well how many workers have been injured over the years! Plus its not simply a dept issue, its a hospital wide issue. We the union hospital are the only ones in the system without such lift equipment as sit to stands and ceiling lifts! Pretty disgusting if you ask me!

Oh yeah, our vacations are so restricted there is not enough weeks in the year for everyone to take a vacation! Used to let 3 RN's a shift go on vacation now only 1 RN shift per week and many are unable to get vacation, let alone a summer vacation! Union was going to do something about this. Guess what, nothing was done! Oh we can ask not to work 4 hours of our holiday, we can ask to actually have a holiday day "off" as opposed to working our full hours (its in the contract) this after a yearlong grievance, but management can still refuse if they don't feel there is enough staff around! Total waste of time, but they take 1%+ of our pay!

I only wish we had such a strong union as you or if we had the CA union that get staffing ratios passed thru. We still have mandatory overtime as well in our contract!

Specializes in OB, Med/Surg, Ortho, ICU.

This is precisely why I am generally anti-union. Their purpose in the past has been honorable, but become more self-serving and, at times, corrupt. There are good units to join, as long as there is even-keeled leadership. If you find the actions of this union incorrect, now is the time to speak out.

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Only a post or two in and someone kicks in the Godwin's law effect.

I believe that there is more than a bit of difference between Nazi genocide and a sympathy strike. I suspect that the families of the 9 million murdered would agree.

You said you're thankful to have a job and you are satisfied, go to work.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

No, I personally would not do it.

"keep in mind that the pilgrims weren't team players. the nazis were."

godwin aside, as a bona fide pilgrim descendent who lives within half an hour's drive of the ancestral homeland and its churchyards where they rest up to my grandparents and father, i can tell you that the pilgrims, while they didn't want to play ball with the english monarchy of their day, were definitely not free spirits, and definitely did not encourage, umm, creativity in religious or social expression. they were not here for religious liberty, except their own. i'm not knocking them, they did what they had to do, and i am in awe of how they made a life here whenever the winter rolls in, but they don't have anything to do with this discussion.

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