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.

Specializes in Tele Step Down, Oncology, ICU, Med/Surg.

I'm a second career nurse. Have a prior business degree and worked for years for a major manufacturer. I did not believe in Unions--was anti union actually and could give you an earful of my reasons why; some of those issues are still valid today.

What has happened to bedside nursing is that all the power is in the hands of CEO's and boardrooms with no idea of bedside care and who's end game is to maximize profits. Bring everything down to it's lowest possible price/maximum profit. Cut corners, cheap supplies, unworkable hours, short staffing are all part of this.

Nurses--the front line care providers--are viewed as interchangeable/replaceable bodies. I unfortunately work for a Sutter Health hospital. One of the worst offenders; they brazenly break nurse/patient ratio laws and labor contract agreements because they feel they are above the law. And in many ways they are as their huge profits give them the power to change governing policy. They are a non-profit organization with the lowest charity care expenditure yet with the highest of CEO/officer salaries. This is not unique. We are leaving democracy and entering a feudalistic society where $$$$ are in the hands of the top and we at the bottom have very little control or power.

Without the Union, we nurses are powerless. Huge amounts of money are being spent right now to break my Union. Despite my issues with Unionization I know first hand it has protected my wages and benefits. Sutter is yanking the chain of it's nurses by moving them to 0.4 non benefited positions all while hiring travelers. I know first hand through experience now how the Union protects me and my patients, I have the Union protecting me when I've taken an assignment against objective and a near sentinel event happened as a result. I'm a convert now, so I've joined the fight to protect my Union. I could leave my hospital but I would be leaving the community I was born and raised in. So, instead, I am going to stay and fight this union busting, and am digging myself in for a battle.

Specializes in Critical-care RN.

...be aware:yeah:

Specializes in Dialysis.

The person at our corporate office who decided to stay with 12 hour shifts did so because his wife is a nurse at a local hospital. Of course, she works day shift, and they have a float pool to cover absences etc. We are quite upset and tired. We think that this is a small thing. Sadly, almost all of the night shifters are older seasoned nurses...this is a LTC, so there isn't the resources to obtain or maintain float staff. We are an all private pay facility, and this is the one sticking point with our jobs I've appreciated the comments though.

If you ALL want your 8 hour shifts back I think it is worth having a few meetings away from the hospital to plan.

Then begin by bringing it up at staff meetings. A letter signed by all nursing staff should cause your management to agree.

Research how 12 hour shifts lead to fatigue. Fatigue can cause accidents and errors.

Perhaps you can get 8 hour shifts back without a union.

Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

The most effective means of getting what you want without union representation is for several staff to give resignation.

Are you nuts? Medicine is about profit. Nurses are an expense. If you think you are so talented and special that a facility won't stab you in the back, you are fooling yourself.

Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.

I see a lot of posts in this thread saying how much this person or that person hates the corporations. So tell me why do you work for them?

We know when we get hired we are working for a hospital that is in business to make money. They need to make money so you can get a pay check but they are hated for making money. Honestly that is perplexing to me.

I don't understand why nurses as a whole cannot work together and educate the public about the ills of hospital life. If there is public outrage over how thin nurses are spread and how dangerous it actually is, we can see change in the work place.

I dont know how California did it, and I havent seen the effects of the changes there first hand, so I dont know if it is really as great as it sounds....but the NNU representation at my hospital is AWFUL and it represents the stereotype of why unions are bad. I cannot wait to go back home to my right to work state, where my friend who has the same education and experience I do, makes 26.53/hr un-unionized with similar benefits. I make 30.03/hr and my cost of living is double what it is at home and my hospital is completely unsafe and just plain ridiculous.

So the way I see it, the 70/month I pay for union dues is absolutely wasted.

Specializes in TELEMETRY-MED/SURG-PULMONARY-STEP/DOWN.

You are the reason why RNs are underpaid. Unions have allowed me to get paid 900000/year after 12 years of exp. In NYC. hospitals in NYC that are not unionized pay their RNs far less. Unions demand safe staffing and safe nurse-patient ratio. I am a NYSNA member. When I retire, I will get at least 3K plus a month on top of my 410K. I have an amazing insurance no co/pay. Only $100/month for family health insurance. Your hospital administration couldn't care less about RNs. Unions demand that RNs take their lunch or get paid when they do not. RNs are professionals. Enough of the abuse.

Specializes in TELEMETRY-MED/SURG-PULMONARY-STEP/DOWN.

Also unions have demanded that our hospital pay 18 credits a year for RN education. I have my BSN...thanks to my UNION. Not all unions are the same. The best Unions are NYSNA and 1199. Get informed people.

They use to make school teachers clean classrooms before they unionized. If you don't want to be out of work at the age of 55, you will be smart and team up with the Federation of Teachers.

I see a lot of posts in this thread saying how much this person or that person hates the corporations. So tell me why do you work for them?

We know when we get hired we are working for a hospital that is in business to make money. They need to make money so you can get a pay check but they are hated for making money. Honestly that is perplexing to me.

corporations aren't hated for making money. they're hated for prioritizing money over and at the expense of their workers and patients. it IS entirely possible to have a balance between being profitable and being fair to the workers who enable them to make a profit in the first place.

being a "successful" business by exploiting the people who work for you is not really success at all. and imho people have had enough of corporations whose spokespeople whine about how they have to lay off workers and reduce hours and wages and yet their top level executives are being paid multi-million-dollar salaries.

Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

CHS is now the largest hospital operator in terms of the number of facilities: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20140127/BUSINESS/301270054/Community-Health-Systems-completes-purchase-HMA

Often they own the only hospital in town. They buy former community hospitals. Nurses who care about the healthcare in their community and want to live near family often have no choice but to try to improve care. Some nurses organized for better patient care.

Read about it if you are interested: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20140209/BUSINESS05/302090034/Nurses-union-s-conflict-Community-Health-Systems-heats-up

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