Young CNA here: help me understand this union thing

[ravenpuff]

I'm nursing student who just got a job as a CNA in a hospital, and there's a CNA union at this place. I'm not familiar at all with the concept of unions because I've never encountered them at my previous jobs. How is this going to affect me, my salary, etc?

I understand these kinds of topics can stir the political pot, so if answers could be kept as neutral as possible (or at least, kept non-hostile toward any ideology), that would be great.

Thanks! And stay warm if that polar vortex is still throwing the cold your way

[toomuchbaloney]

Just because this particular screen name has only been in use since Feb. does not mean that I have not been a member for a few years. I have posted enough information under my "normal" screen name that I could possibly be identified by friends/co-workers/etc. so now I have a new screen name with absolutely no personally identifiable information so I can express opinions and share experiences without being identified.

My apologies for assuming you were a troll designed to make potshot comments.

[Mindful, RN]

... sounds to me you may be a troll for Hospitals ?

[Chisca, RN]

Then when they decide that YOU have to strike, you do so for as long as they decide while receiving a pittance that will not pay your bills, meanwhile they are still collecting their full salaries while you are contemplating bankruptcy because you can't pay your bills. ]

If I posted nonsense like that I would remain annonymous too.

[HazelLPN, LPN]

And the union bigwigs will use your dues to pay themselves an outrageous salary, go on political junkets, and to donate to their favorite political party whenever the members agree or not. Then when they decide that YOU have to strike, you do so for as long as they decide while receiving a pittance that will not pay your bills, meanwhile they are still collecting their full salaries while you are contemplating bankruptcy because you can't pay your bills.

That is absolutely none of my experience. Collective bargaining means that you as a nurse have a collective voice in your contract. None of my union reps were getting an outrageous salary...like the CEO of the hospital. A nurse's interest in her/his patients. The CEO is interested in money. Who do you want to tell you your working conditions....management telling you the way its going to be or having a voice in that process? As far as the politics, the union will support politicians who support workers rights vs ones who support corporate greed.

[Psychosocialist]

There are 2 things you need as a CNA.

Union membership if you can, because when it comes down to management vs. you, management has a legal team it can focus on little ol' you to vaporize you and here you can't afford even ONE labor lawyer. Well the union has plenty of those, PLUS special rights only union members have, like the right to have a union rep present any time the member feels a meeting with management has the potential to result in an adverse action.

The other one, I know you didn't bring it up, is Liability Insurance, which is dirt cheap from www.nso.org where I first got mine as a nursing student NA. Management said don't worry, we have you covered, but I knew if it came time for the insurance company to choose who to throw under the bus, it wasn't going to be management, because they paid the premiums. I needed to be the payor if I wanted the insurer on my side alone.

So far as I know, none of the officers of my local are paid a dime.