Why is unionization a subject of taboo??

Nurses Union

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Hey everybody,

I work on a busy telemetry floor in Florida. Most days/nights (I work both) I am running around like crazy trying to get everything done with minimal time to take a break, go to lunch, or go to the bathroom. Pay is not that great and I feel as if upper mgmt continuously send patients that are not appropriate acuity for our floor. We are staffed 5:1 and have rapid responses/codes daily and are always shipping people off to the ICU for higher level of care. Also, our charge nurse usually takes patients and we are usually also short staffed a tech leaving the individual RN to fend for ourselves.

I know it is like this everywhere (at least on telemetry units)....sooooo why aren't nurses banding together to stop this? Why is it such taboo to talk about starting a nursing union in Florida (or in other states for that matter)?

In a private conversation with my ANM (who I have grown close with through the ups and downs of our crazy floor), I asked her this same question. She totally freaked out on me and refused to even say the word "union" out loud suggesting that if someone overheard us, we could be fired on the spot. What? Seriously? I'm not saying that unionization is the absolute answer but maybe blending some of their ideas with our own to make for a better workplace for all. Why are we not allowed to even talk about it out loud? This isn't a dictatorship. And nurses continue to put up with this. They say things like, "It is what it is." Actually, usually, it is what it shouldn't be.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. As a disclaimer, I am very thankful to have a job and I do enjoy taking care of my patients. Have a great day!

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

I don't have anything to add, but this is a subject dear to my heart. I used to belong to an "open shop" meaning nurses didn't have to pay union dues, but still were represented. I call them "freeloaders". In my years there, I encountered incredible ignorance and misperception in otherwise intelligent people.

Professional vs blue collar? That is a ridiculous distinction when you're being treated with the utmost disrespect. And instead of presenting a united voice, too many nurses resort to fighting among themselves when the workloads are unmanageable.

This forum is a wonderful thing. Is there a way to bring more nurses on board and help them to see where their bread is really buttered?

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Hmmmmm.......interesting, how anti-union people are characterized here as unintelligent, ignorant, even sheep-like, while those who advocate compulsory union membership face no accusations whatsoever of being "followers". Am I the only one who sees a bit of prejudice here?

Hmmmmm.......interesting, how anti-union people are characterized here as unintelligent, ignorant, even sheep-like, while those who advocate compulsory union membership face no accusations whatsoever of being "followers". Am I the only one who sees a bit of prejudice here?

Compulsory union membership benefits everyone. Everyone pays, and everyone is covered by the contact. Anti union nurses stick their heads in the sand, believing that they have some sort of "control", over their practice, and if they are, "nice and obedient", that when the you know what, hits the fan, that the PTB will somehow recognize their dedication and support/protect them.

It takes a rude awakening (getting thrown under the bus), to make them see the light. In the meantime, they have prevented the only thing that will give the nursing profession what it needs, nurses have been fired for trying to unionize, and heads roll. And nothing changes.

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

Some "anti-union" nurses don't have their head in the sand.

Some aren't willing to contribute their money to another level of bureaucracy.

Some aren't willing to provide direct financial support to an organization that lobbies on issues that violate their personal ethics, morals and beliefs.

Some aren't willing to contribute to an organization that asks their members to stick there nose in situations that don't directly effect them, in the name of solidarity.

Some aren't willing to participate in an organization that promotes a them and us mentality.

Some "anti-union" nurses don't have their head in the sand.

Some aren't willing to contribute their money to another level of bureaucracy.

Some aren't willing to provide direct financial support to an organization that lobbies on issues that violate their personal ethics, morals and beliefs.

Some aren't willing to contribute to an organization that asks their members to stick there nose in situations that don't directly effect them, in the name of solidarity.

Some aren't willing to participate in an organization that promotes a them and us mentality.

Some anti union nurses work for subtandard wages, benefits, work in unsafe conditions, not only for themselves, but more importantly, their patients. Anti union nurses cannot advocate for their patients for fear of being fired.

Some anti union workers work in hospitals, where the management, administration, ALL HAVE CONTRACTS PROTECTING THEIR JOBS AND BENEFITS! Why don't you?

Some anti union nurses work in hospitals where the medical directors belong to and pay dues, to the State Medical Board. Why? Because they know that there is strength in numbers, that the State Medical Board is watching their backs, and professional practice issues, to protect from interlopers on their practice.

I have lost count of the numbers of doctors who have practice issues, almost, or should have had their licenses taken away, and didn't, because the State Medical Board protects them from everything, deserving or not.

That is why nurses should belong to a union, pay dues to support, and put aside their own beliefs, and place their support to the associations that are watching your backs. If the union is not doing what it is supposed to do, hold their feet to the fire and demand that they do. When ONE NURSE IS PROTECTED, ALL NURSES ARE PROTECTED, AND SO ARE OUR PATIENTS.

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

Specializes in Psych , Peds ,Nicu.

Now lets address this confrontation issue straight on . I hear so often anti unionist bemoaning the unions causing the us versus them attitude of employer / employee relationships , but heres the thing if thoses conditions didn't exist before the union comes into a facility it would not become unonized ( no staff / employee grievance = no discontent = no union ) .It is poor management that opens the door to union organization of a facility . If employees had a non adviserial relationship with their employers , a organization drive would be doomed to failure .

So wake up and smell the rose it is poor management that creates an adverserial work place and a poor management , who rather than work with their employees through the union that represents them , continues to irritate staff by not acting in accordance with the contract .

The best recruitment / retention tool unions have is poor management .

Not all the unions are the same...

The pillars of my work place is best quality, best service, most affordable, and best place to work.

We are union nurses and we work together to ensure these four pillars are at the center of what we do.

When you work under a contract, the rules of engagement are clear. What the employer & employee can expect, etc. Google some nurse contracts. Read them over and see if there is anything that goes against your ethics or professional practice. Knowledge will beat out the propaganda.

ps The pharmacists in my hospital are union. There is another union locally for physicians & dentists also.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
That is why nurses should belong to a union, pay dues to support, and put aside their own beliefs, and place their support to the associations that are watching your backs. JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

Now who's acting like sheeple? If this isn't a great example of herd mentality, I don't know what would be. I'm supposed to put aside my own beliefs to support a union, even though its leadership may throw my hard-earned dues to causes I don't believe in? I DON'T THINK SO. :mad:

If you want to belong to a union, go ahead.......it's your choice, and if nurses like me have our way, it will always remain your choice. Please respect my choice not to belong.

JMHO and my two pence worth.

Marla, RN, CMSRN, DNS

Also somewhere in the PACNW

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Some "anti-union" nurses don't have their head in the sand.

Some aren't willing to contribute their money to another level of bureaucracy.

Some aren't willing to provide direct financial support to an organization that lobbies on issues that violate their personal ethics, morals and beliefs.

Some aren't willing to contribute to an organization that asks their members to stick there nose in situations that don't directly effect them, in the name of solidarity.

Some aren't willing to participate in an organization that promotes a them and us mentality.

:tku::tku::tku:

Specializes in Psych , Peds ,Nicu.

Management sets the tone of industrial relations , if they are confrontational / dictatorial it forms the basis for nurses to desire unionization of their facility .That being the case it is management that propogates the us versus them mentality of the workplace .

If management maintains good relationships with there employees , the union would have no foundation upon which to build a organization drive .

My employer is the best recruitment / retention tool for our union because of the way they keep on trying to impose there will , even when these policies skirt / downright contravene laws and policies .

I lived and worked in a right to work state. Unions did try to organize and every single RN that went to the meetings were fired. All of them had to move out of the area in a greater than 200 mile radius to get a job. We worked low pay and higher patient loads as the norm and basically had no voice. If it ever got to a vote, I still don't think it would fly. Another poster suggested neocons would fight if from pulpits-true, but RN's somehow believe being in a union is UNPROFESSIONAL. I can't tell you the number of talks we had about it. (Notice I said talks not arguments) The number one thing I heard was--I went to college--or I'm not a blue collar worker, or if nurses were suppossed to be unionized the JCAHO would mandate it. Seriously, I envied the unionized nurses.

Did any of these nurses get a lawyer and sue? You have a Constitutional Right to belong to a union. It is illegal to fire someone for union activity. Even in right to work states. You do have Constitutional Rights in Right to Work States.

Nurses are in dire need of civics lessons. And lessons on their workplace rights. We do have them, inspite of hospitals trying to convince us that we don't.

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

Specializes in Critical Care.
Now who's acting like sheeple? If this isn't a great example of herd mentality, I don't know what would be. I'm supposed to put aside my own beliefs to support a union, even though its leadership may throw my hard-earned dues to causes I don't believe in? I DON'T THINK SO. :mad:

If you want to belong to a union, go ahead.......it's your choice, and if nurses like me have our way, it will always remain your choice. Please respect my choice not to belong.

JMHO and my two pence worth.

Marla, RN, CMSRN, DNS

Also somewhere in the PACNW

VivaLasViejas,

I'm a little puzzled by your anti union stance as I remember you writing about being fired after 50 and struggling to get work. Don't you realize if you had a union you might still have a job. Without a union anyone can be fired anytime for any reason or no reason. At least with a union they have to show cause to fire you.

In corp America including nursing it seems to be common practice to get rid of older workers to save money on pay and benefits and there is really nothing to stop them as you have personally experienced. Given that I don't understand your hostility toward unions at least they give us working stiffs some control over our work environment, pay and benefits and not to simply be at the mercy of a corp downsizing of older workers!

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