Would you ever be a scab?

[klone]

Due to a short stint in travel nursing, I am now on the email list of several travel nursing companies. I just received an email from one company, talking about how they're gearing up to send 300+ nurses out to Maine, in anticipation of a strike.

They're only guaranteeing 36 hours total, and they anticipate the strike may end by that time. And they're offering $46/hour for a week of work.

I don't know, if I'm going to uproot my life, fly across country, cross a picket line of angry nurses, and only have one week of guaranteed work, I darn well better be paid more than $46/hour!

What say you?

Would you, could you, be a scab? For $46/hour?

[superstew]

I would quit nursing before I ever crossed the picket line.

[Mindful, RN]

What does it matter.......... so I can check your union web page :uhoh3:

[gypsyd8]

Oh fudge. I didn't want to post too much identifying info on here, I actually like to work. That Is why I haven't identified the union. I don't think anything I have said is slanderous/libelous, its the truth as far as I saw it compiled with research I did in the union. It's SEIU, and I don't think they arebeing square with us worker bees. I predict a miraculous reconciliation, where there is no clinical ladder or special call off pay but some carrot that will allow them to say the strike was effective. The fact remains that the union & mgmt are playing politics with peoples lives.

some well-meaning physician actually presented the strikers with a big fat check for the "strike fund," guess what? None of the nurses on strike were compensated by the union. The strike has to go over ten days and then strikers get some pittance for their trouble. I wonder who actually got all that money. Meanwhile, it was a great opportunity for politicians to look oh so proletariat in their Armani suits. The whole thing was a bunch of contrived BS. I wouldn't be surprised if the union brass & management play golf & drink scotch together when their not busy making us think they are hostile toward each other. I should post their back and forth memos in the internet. It would be funny if it weren't for all the patients that suffer because of this.

[Mindful, RN]

In your 3 posts so far, you are a SEIU RN that crossed the strike line of a CA.NURSE ASSN. labor action. I'am really confused......:confused:

[qnmimi]

I am a union RN from minnesota......even if I disagreed with my union, I could not cross a picket line, mine or any other union striking if I can help it. I can't control what other nurses do, but just can't condone crossing.

[RN1980]

this is comming from a nurse in central mississippi. prolly one of the worst "right to work" states in america. i have seen many a good and decent nurse, resp tech, ems personel, x-ray tech etc.. get the shaft for various stupid, childlike and even down right lying accusations. i know some of you that are reading this claim you would never be pushed around and treated like crap at your job...but honestly what can you do..what is your recourse against the hospital machine. the only thing out there is a strong union that can carry a big stick for the average worker. hell i'd paint lines on a highway for money before a cross the scab line.

[luvche]

Sorry, but if the choices are losing my home, and not being able to feed my son or picketing, then I guess I'd be proud to be a scab and take care of my family than strike and lose everything. Some nurses (myself included) make good money.....but still live paycheck to paycheck due to circumstances and curve balls life has thrown at them. Especially single parent nurses. So taking a lower paying non-nursing job during a strike would not keep us fed and seltered. Some are lucky enough to have a savings or a spouse. Some could care less if they end up living in a car with their family (scruples are more important than some people's family I guess, fine). But providing for my son is first and foremost to me. I am sure I am not the only one who would make that choice.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

I am a Professional Nurse, not a stevedore. I think nursing unions are unprofessional at best, and striking is unethical. I crossed picket lines to work in MI years ago and would do it again. However, if the real question is would I cross the country for $46/h? Certainly not. I was paid $60/h to cross picket lines at Henry Ford 10(ish) years ago.

[RN1980]

im a professional nurse, not a "pinkerton of old". if being in a union allows the nurse not having to worry about underhanded tricks and schemes that administration is doing in order to fatten their quarterly bonuses, therefore leaving the nurse only having to concentrate on the pt task at hand. i think there is a tremendous advantage for the nurse to feel comfortable that you have someone with a big stick on your side along with the strong solidarity of your peers that allows you to perform at your best...which in my opinion translates to better care for the pt. the moniker is true..a happy nurse makes a happy pt!

[gypsyd8]

In your 3 posts so far, you are a SEIU RN that crossed the strike line of a CA.NURSE ASSN. labor action. I'am really confused......:confused:

I don't recall saying I crossed a CNA picket line, I will have to go back and see where the confusion is. I do know that I mentioned that I didn't cross ANY picket line, because nobody was actually walking in one. I do know that SEIU is not even affiliated with AFL-CIO anymore, while CNA is and actually have been effective in getting legislation passed, so I am wondering if the problem lies not with unions in general but SEIU in particular

[Mindful, RN]

your memory and ethics needs help, have a nice day gypsy..........

[Kim5/08]

If I was a patient in a hospital, I sure as hell would hope someone would cross the line to come take care of me. I guess I just look at things from a different angle.