Top 10 Reasons Against Unions

Nurses Union

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You are reading page 13 of Top 10 Reasons Against Unions

imthatnurse

1 Post

I wish ohio would get unions, the patient nurse ratio plus supervising two buildings, sometimes while working two floors........ Need I go on.

Mindful, RN

306 Posts

Specializes in Critical-care RN.
:yeah: its not easy to unionize in Calif to... News: California | National Nurses United
Specializes in ICU, BURNS, TRAUMA, TRANSPORT, HH.

It is very much not easy to unionize in the midwest where the republican governors and legislators are breaking unions as fast as they can...

djcna

1 Post

We need a healthcare workers union at Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville, TN. They have new management and are making

policy changes on work hours. They also have said they will reduce pay for CNA's who are required to set with a patient, by $2.00 an hour. Those CNA's do not have a choice whether they set or work on the floor they are assigned when they arrive for work.

Mindful, RN

306 Posts

Specializes in Critical-care RN.

Corporate pigs making money on others...

MassED, BSN, RN

2,636 Posts

Specializes in ER.
Corporate pigs making money on others...

you mean big hospital corporations? Both sides could argue the same thing. Unions want in, hospitals don't want them in - both are seeking the highest return. Of course there is no group that is altruistic, let's all just be honest for a minute.

What nurses need is a group that will look out for them over the big business of healthcare. Healthcare is concerned about bringing patients in, many patients, the more the merrier. Nurses need controlled chaos. We need benefits, good pay, balanced ratios, etc. Balance. We pay union fees to have someone looking out for us that can be an oversight to the big healthcare business. It's the lesser of all evils, really. The police of healthcare, if you will. Do you think hospitals can police themselves? Perhaps in regards to healthcare laws, but we all have heard of Medicare fraud. It is prudent to pay someone to look out for the little guys who have not a leg to stand on in the big, bad corporate world.

[color=#808000]top ten reasons why we don't want a union

10. the union doesn't write my paycheck.

9. unions would rather cause problems than work together.

8. union scale means the best workers are carrying the worst.

7. the people who want a union really need one.

6. too corrupt.

5. too political, too liberal and too partisan.

4. unions are only about power and money for the ones who run the union.

3. unions are negative about everything but how great they are.

2. i like to work steady.

1. i've got too much self respect.

This made me throw up in my mouth a little.

DH just helped unionize his company. I'm really proud of him. And I know if my workplace had voted for a union we'd have halfway decent health insurance.

Specializes in PCCN.

I think the benefit outweighs the risk.

I was a member of IUE-CWA back years ago.It was worth every penny of dues to me then. Only thing they "sold out on"was the actual job being taken over by non union non american owners who moved the operations out of the country.

But while I was employed, it was great to have a rep to go to and be a voice for you. And, sure. The lazy bleep got the same benefits as the person who works their butt off, but I'd give anything for any kind of protection nowadays.

too bad the corporations are winning now. We are nothing but numbers to them.

HurleyRN

18 Posts

Specializes in Renal, NICU.

BEFORE I get lambasted, let me preface this by saying my experience with unions is limited to my hospital only. I am aware that just like anything, there are good and there are bad. With that being said....let my rant begin.

I am fully supportive of the "Right to Work" for the above mentioned reasons. I have no qualms with unionization in general (although I do think there are some inherent flaws). Actually, from what I understand, our dues are not as high as many.

My problem is with our particular union and steward. He has been in the position for a few years now and has accomplished NOTHING. Any pay increases with contracts are general standard of living increases that I would probably get anyway. We consistently have lost benefit days, have stricter sick day process, questionable overtime pay scales, etc. When we lose, our Union claims a victory and tells us to be grateful, that we could have lost a lot more! Many times I have suspected that he was "in bed" with administration and a recent e-mail confirmed my suspicions. He directly stated that he is paid by our hospital, which I don't know if that is usual, but seems like a HUGE conflict of interest!

Our staffing is terrible, we are mandated ALL the time. One year, I had 76 hours in mandation only. That did not include voluntary.

Not too far back, we were running up to 5 nurses short in a critical care unit. Many have stopped filing greivances because it goes nowhere. A while back, we had a pretty high profile lawsuit against the hospital that may have been avoided if the union had intervened and protected a nurse as they claim to do. The whole issue could have been settled quietly, avoiding some negative press. When the unit called the union, they were told not to bother filing a greivance, that management had taken care of it.

Now, as we have become a right to work state, we have recieved e-mails that take a very threatening tone. Instead of respecting why some would choose to opt out, He refers to them as "freeloaders" that will be reaping the benefits without paying.

I'm sorry, but I would say the burden of proof is on him to show that I am benefitting from it at all! I consider myself a hard worker, and diligent at what I do. I do not appreciate his insinuation that I am so inept or the hospital is so evil that I would be out on my ear for no good reason at all. But the scare tactics work with a lot of people apparently. I actually feel I could have more opportunity without our union.

It is very frustrating. I am very active in hospital a safety issues. I looked to our union for help with safe staffing and got an ear full of empty promises. I have since gotten involved in that independantly.

In one conversation, our steward was trying to make a point as to how hard he works and what he has to "put up with". He mentioned that he was currently defending a nurse that was on probation for drunk driving. I really don't see why our union dues would go toward something like that. And if he was complaining about all the "whiners" to me, I can only imagine how he talks about us as a group.

So again, my intent is to not offend anyone. I wanted to illustrate the point that it should be OPTIONAL. Maybe having the choice will force ours and other poorly run unions into stepping up to the plate and effectively looking out for our best interests, and thus, those of our patients.

briarwood

5 Posts

I just have to respond to this.....you must really be dreaming! I DO believe nurses benefit from Unions but not to the extent that you have portrayed. Small Unions can keep a hospital "honest" ...that is to enforce certain requirements such as coverage for lunch breaks and 15 min breaks, fair wages, some degree of job protection etc. Large Unions such as SEIU have way too much political clout and have helped elect our current President who is destroying this county. Ideally, it would be wonderful to provide health care to everyone but it is not possible...will literally bankrupt our Nation. I have a hard time accepting a President who supports abortion. Next it will be euthanasia or some other practice I morally cannot support. This topic is so far reaching and I cannot do justice in one small paragraph.

briarwood

5 Posts

I was responding to the post from MassED from July 26th

Mindful, RN

306 Posts

Specializes in Critical-care RN.

Hey buddy... be careful for what you wish for :cautious:

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