Top 10 Reasons Against Unions

Nurses Union

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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.

The main problem with your arguement, is that, doing what you suggest, "Start acting like a professional and demand that every one treats us as professional", will get a nurse fired if there is no union to protect him/her. THAT IS THE POINT OF NURSES BELONGING TO UNIONS!!

It is PROTECTION FIRST, pay and benefits are second. With no union contract, most nurses work in, "at will", states, if not, "Right to Work" (for less), states.

WHAT is your CONCRETE suggestion for nurses to protect themselves?

Yes, the, "martry mary" mentality needs to go. That starts with nursing school.

One of the main reason that I support a BSN as entry into practice, is that, there are alot of classes that can be added to the nursing program, that there is not enough time in ADN or Diploma programs to include them. I call them, "quality of life", classes.

EMPLOYMENT LAW, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, INSURANCE LAW, HOW TO START A BUSINESS (yes, PTs, OT, take these classes as part of their curriculum. Why not nurses?

If nurses new the law, concerning Employment, they would possess the necessary tools to combat many of the workplace abuses that nurses endure. They just do not know the law, and that is where many of us are taking advantage of in the workplace.

There are good unions. NNOC being the best. Contrary to your statements, NNOC earned staffing ratios for nurses in California. NNOC hospitals adverted a workplace action in California, when the hospital was refusing to negotiate with the union, (I don't remember what), and the unions in several hospital in the same chain were going to go on strike with the other hospitals.

When faced with concerted action by the union, the hospital backed down. THAT is the power of the unions. You are right, that there are too many unions, who are, as we say in Brooklyn, about as useful as tits on on bull. They are too weak.

Much of that comes from not presenting a unified, strong face to the hospital. If the members are weak, the union will be weak.

The biggest impedement right now, is the mass, overproducing of nurses, that was a deliberate ploy by hospitals to weaken any srtrength that nurses won in recent years. Here again, strong union backing will allow nurses to gain back any losses in contracts.

Yes, nurses need to get out to the public, and educate the public about nurses, and why nurses are so important to their safety in the hospital. And yes, the book. "From Silence to Voice", is a must read for all nurses.

If nurses don't organize to protect their profession, we will continue to have our professional practice handed over to others. We may not be as replacable as the employees of Hostess, but if we continue to allow or professional practice to be chipped away, we will not have a professional practice to protect. For that, nurses do need, UNION protection, with the NNOC.

JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN (ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW

Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.

Hmm. I've never been fired for it. I've made it a practice. I approach things as trying to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. The last time I had a disagreement with admin, the docs who's respect I had earned, backed me. More money, better shifts, and found a way to squeak another nurse into the rotation. I had shown that by my words and actions, I was looking out for their patients. Now I admit that this isn't going to work for everyone, but if we start a culture shift.

Protection also has to come from within. As a culture, we don't protect our own. We throw each other under the bus on a daily basis. The culture of eating our own as it were.

As to the BSN, yes I think it should be the entry point. PRobably for different reasons. I feel that the ADN is a con job. In the majority of cases, it takes almost as much time to make an ADN as it does a BSN. I fought in a place were the BSN was one semester longer than the ADN. It's not a conspiracy though that keeps them around. It's $. ADN programs are usually run through community colleges. with the state support, and grant and scholarships, it's possible to graduate, become an RN with only $800-$1400 of dept. Can't say that about many of the BSN programs. As an educator, it's not so much about the hours, but the whole format of nursing education. And why the heck are we still producing LPN's?

I don't believe in the conspiracy theory that the hospitals are conspiring to produce more RN's to keep the cost down. You give the hospitals to much credit. It's the fact that schools have waiting lists of people wanting to get into nursing school. The more of them the schools can get in and out, the more money for them. Simple economics, not conspiracy. Still has the same net result in some places.

I think your statement about weak individuals = week union better states my thoughts about unions in a way I wasn't doing a good job verbalizing.

I agree with the need for more education on the background stuff we have to deal with. I'm always shocked at the number of posts here asking how do I get a license in another state. Not knowing a basic issue of our profession is unconscionable.

Another issue is BON's. Why the heck do we tolerate 50+ different scope of practices for nurses? How did we get to a place where I am encouraged to do one thing in one state and then 18 mile away, just because I crossed a line on a map, if i did the same thing would get my license pulled and potentially put up on criminal charges for practicing outside my scope of practice? As I think about it, that may be were we need to start. If a nurse isn't a nurse everywhere, then it's hard to present a unified front.

Specializes in Critical-care RN.

But you have to agree, the hospitals are making the most of the surplus of nurses, with the way they are treating new grads, and of course older RNs.

This is a situation made in heavan for hospitals. They are probably thinking, "why didn't we think of this sooner. Overproduce nurses! What a great idea!

JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN ,BSN, CCRN (ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW

Most anti-union arguments I've heard have come from administrators and greedy CEOs. Most nurses I have met that are in unions love them. Without unions the future of nursing is doomed.

Orlando Health CEO Sherrie Sitarik steps down

This is the power of collective organizing. Keep fighting Orlando Health nurses and do not give up. This is just the first step towards your mission for collective bargaining rights. Go nurses!

CEO Sherrie Sitarik leaves Orlando Health after rocky year - Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Health CEO Sherrie Sitarik steps down | www.wftv.com

Specializes in Critical-care RN.

... the power of Unionization :yes:

My coworkers in California finally convinced administration to can the Nurse Manager of the ICU that we worked in. On the day she came in to clean out her office, they all came in on their day off, got chairs from the visitor waiting room, and sat in the hallway across from her office, as she collected her belongings.

They just sat there and grinned at her as she worked. They knew that they had won. Working for a collective goal can work. I suggest that you guys do the same. And take pictures! Just don't give up! Stay strong!

JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN(ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Orlando Health CEO Sherrie Sitarik steps down

This is the power of collective organizing. Keep fighting Orlando Health nurses and do not give up. This is just the first step towards your mission for collective bargaining rights. Go nurses!

CEO Sherrie Sitarik leaves Orlando Health after rocky year - Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Health CEO Sherrie Sitarik steps down | www.wftv.com

WHOOT!!! :up: still more to go... :yes:

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Orlando Health CEO Sherrie Sitarik steps down

This is the power of collective organizing. Keep fighting Orlando Health nurses and do not give up. This is just the first step towards your mission for collective bargaining rights. Go nurses!

CEO Sherrie Sitarik leaves Orlando Health after rocky year - Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Health CEO Sherrie Sitarik steps down | www.wftv.com

The devil you know may be Minnie mouse than the devil they find.....!

The devil you know may be Minnie mouse than the devil they find.....!

So very true.

My coworkers in California finally convinced administration to can the Nurse Manager of the ICU that we worked in. On the day she came in to clean out her office, they all came in on their day off, got chairs from the visitor waiting room, and sat in the hallway across from her office, as she collected her belongings.

They just sat there and grinned at her as she worked. They knew that they had won. Working for a collective goal can work. I suggest that you guys do the same. And take pictures! Just don't give up! Stay strong!

JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN(ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW

Now that's how it should be done lol.

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