Unions. What do they do for us?

I guarantee you that I won't ever be going out on strike. I never intend to leave my patients without a nurse. Union or no union. They can't stop me from crossing the line.

I was a manager in Texas for a long time. Yes, we were in a right to work state, but I had to have proper documentation in order to terminate an employee. At my current hospital, union, we have the same standards. In our hospital it is nothing to do with the union. You still have to have the proper documentation to terminate someone and that documentation is no different than what was required in Houston. However, Texas has a strict nurse practice act, more than Washington state so many terminations are based on those standards because they are mandated under the board rules.

You know, I don't need the union to help me in my job. They have done NOTHING FOR ME except take my money and the small amount of raise that they were able to "bargain" for, a whole 1%. That small increase when to my increased union dues.

We get these ******** newsletters from the union almost every week about how "unsafe" nursing care is in the state because all the hospitals are trying to screw us. This is simply not the case. Staffing ratios here, for the most part are very good, at least at the hospitals I am familiar with.

The bottom line is that my hospital treats me in a fair manner. I am on a first name basis with the CEO. They have high standards for patient care and they make sure that we have what we need to provide that care. The management staff is responsive to my needs and when I do have staff on my shift (so far there have been two) that were unsafe, they got rid of them. The union had not helped me with any of this and I have never had to consult the union for any assistance in any matter.

So the bottom line for me is that just take my money.