[HobbesRN]

The union elections I've been involved in have been 'yes' or 'no'. It's my belief that having more than one union to choose from would be detrimental to the election process---In my experience, the vote for a union or not was close enough without having to choose between unions at the same time. I'd think more employers would win in that scenario. And, I sure wouldn't want to be working for one of those unions if I were an organizer.
CNA and the NNOC's timing in this whole escapade was not an accident. They did not intend to organize these nurses (and, ultimately, ignore the other 5,000 CHP employees). Their actions were intended to derail the election. Period. They weren't passing out cards or educating nurses. The timing was to prevent the elections, which they did. Their actions were deplorable and indefensible.

[RNPowerCA]

Seems to me that intervening before the election (before the travesty occurs) was the correct procedure and in fact the only option--and in the nick of time!

Getting on the ballot wasn't an option since the employer filed for the elections with not one single employee's union card showing interest in SEIU. Unlike in a normal union election, in this case because the employer filed for an election, there was no process for other unions to intervene. Incidentally, if the election had gone through, a small minority could have voted in SEIU. It was in SEIU's interest to keep the turn-out as low as possible. Getting an election to get out of SEIU, on the other hand, would have required 30% of all RNs signing cards.

Waiting wasn't an option, since the NLRB agreed to run the elections in less than a week's time.

Standing back and watching RNs get swept into a union not of their own choosing and without having the information necessary to make an informed decision was not something that we'd let happen.

Being in a union is about having a say in your own work-life. It's about RNs having a vehicle to collectively stand up for their patients and their practice. It's about self-determination.

This election was about an employer and SEIU working together to quickly impose representation by a union that routinely disregards the voices of RNs and patients, choosing instead to defend the employer's bottom line. Not on our watch.

[Chico David RN]

Since this whole thing was announced only 8 or 10 days before the election and the nurses were told by management that they were forbidden to talk about it with each other, obviously the first priority was to stop this illegitimate process. Then the organizing can start to help the nurses join a real union. And once again I ask:
What exactly was it about a few fliers and a few public questions that made it impossible to hold the election?
Most union elections are held after weeks-long campaigns where everybody gets more information than they care to hear. Why did this one have to be rushed through with no discussion and no chance to even think clearly or get information?

The obvious reason for the timing of the election was that CNA had started organizing in Ohio and working toward a safe staffing bill in Ohio - the hospital's worst nightmare. I feel quite certain that SEIU went to the hospitals and said "Give us your nurses and we'll protect you from CNA/NNOC."

An interesting little side note: Until a few months ago, the UAN (United American Nurses - an amalgam of state nurses associations and the collective bargaining arm of the ANA) was the largest nurses union in the country. Then SEIU made a deal with the leadership to take it over and guess what happened - most of the state assns left the UAN and it is now a tiny rump of its former self. Left to avoid being taken over by SEIU. Those state leaders understand what that would mean for them and for the profession.

[mountaincat]

My heart goes out to the Ohio RNs. But they must learn to do this right the first time. Read labor history; even recent labor history is engaging these days. SEIU left the AFL-CIO to pursue their agenda of "change to win". Say what? Change the rules of democracy to win members?

[mountaincat]

Oh, while you're in a reading mode, look up the Employees Fair Choice Act, think about it, and hopefully support it. We must get beyond these civil wars.

[RN Power Ohio]

HobbesRN,

We did so much educating in these cities! NNOC spoke to hundreds if not thousands of employees (not just nurses) who had so many questions and concerns about this election. We spoke with them about the nature of the filing of this election- one that nearly no one had heard of until the letter.

We met with nurses who were anti-union and nurses who were feeling against a wall- "We want a union, many of us want a professional union- but I guess we get to choose between SEIU or nothing- something is wrong"

Another nurse in tears- what will this mean for us if we say "yes"? I called the hotline and got evasive answers! This is what I am supposed to use to make my decision?"

A painter buttonholed me thinking I was SEIU- what kind of deal did you make to let this happen?? He said! I explained that I was with NNOC and that we represent nurses but that the "deal" is bad for all workers. I told him to call the NNOC hotline and we would put him in touch with a union that would defend his rights and not make deals with the employer.

Another, a janitor came to my defense when he saw clearly I was being attacked (physically and verbally) by the SEIU "thugs"- he said " why are your flyers all over my hospital, why did my boss tell me to vote you in- get away from that lady and leave us alone- we know what you are up to! We don't want any company union!"

There are hundreds of other examples...SEIU did not have the majority support, they did not even have the support of the minority! The only support that was proven was the support of CHP!

Thousands of nurses around the country sent letters to the council of bishops- over 4,000 names collected by NYSNA and CNA/NNOC!

You seem to feel that it is ok to have a company union or no union. And while I agree that these workers need a union as much as or more than anyone (the conditions in these hospitals were horrid!) having an unfair, rushed election that sets a bad precedent for the entire labor movement is not the way to go about it!

I stand with conviction that NNOC did the right thing by exposing this election. I encourage the employees of CHP to organize! I also encourage them to choose an organization that will fight for them and what is right for their community. NOT an organization that is willing to make concessions, circumvent the law and help to promote the will of the corporation!

The educational process will continue as we follow up on the many, many calls and emails of employees of CHP. Hopefully, they will learn why this was wrong and hopefully they will have the strength to unite.

You are part of a CHP/SEIU bargaining unit in Lorain. Your unit has VERY strong leadership. Your unit was formed PRIOR to the recent antics of SEIU. Your bargaining unit was formed with the support of a strong organizational base. This was not the case in the CHP hospitals subject to this election.

[samanthaRN]

[quote=RN Power Ohio;2718771]HobbesRN,

We did so much educating in these cities! NNOC spoke to hundreds if not thousands of employees (not just nurses) who had so many questions and concerns about this election. We spoke with them about the nature of the filing of this election- one that nearly no one had heard of until the letter.

Guess you did a little more than "hand out a few fliers." Wonder how many of your other claims are trustworthy?

My understanding of the election process in this case is that neither the seiu or chp was campaigning at all inside the hospitals, only employees could debate the union and organize either for or against. (Don't understand how that process is unfair -- I would love it for my hospital.)

To me, "educating thousands of nurses" and meeting and instructing those who were against the seiu or any union seems absolutely outrageous under these rules. How are the pro-seiu nurses supposed to compete with paid staff who can spend every hour of the day campaigning, and who have presumably lots of resources including propaganda at their disposal?

I anticipate a few of you will respond with "those aren't really the rules" so I'm including a newspaper article that came out on the subject. A neutral source, unlike some of the posters who are so virulently anti-SEIU.

Cincinnati Enquirer
To unionize or not
BY CLIFF PEALE | CPEALE@ENQUIRER.COM
Last Updated: 12:48 pm | Monday, March 3, 2008

Employees at the five Mercy Health Partners hospitals in Greater
Cincinnati will vote March 14 on whether to unionize.

The employees include nurses, technical workers, maintenance staff and
clerical workers, totaling about 5,000 people. They will vote by ballot
and both Mercy and the Service Employees International Union have
agreed not to try to influence the employees.

Managers will not even answer questions about the election other than
confirming the time and date of the voting, and employees will get
written information and phone numbers to call for more information.
ADVERTISEMENT

"These ground rules are designed to avoid the tension typically
associated with organizing campaigns and ensure that you can make the decision
without pressure from either Mercy or SEIU representatives," a letter
mailed to employees Friday said.

The SEIU has criticized Mercy for years but it has been nearly a decade
since the last vote on unionizing the employees there. In 2006
hospital workers in Cincinnati and around the state filed a class-action
lawsuit claiming the company "systematically shortchanged" employees of
hourly wages.

The Mercy hospitals are in Fairfield, Anderson Township, Mount Airy,
Westwood and Batavia. The union vote does not affect employees at Mercy
Health Partners nursing homes or retirement facilities.

Different units of Mercy employees, such as nurses or clerical staff,
could reach different decisions.

With its administrative offices in Blue Ash, Mercy Health Partners is
owned by downtown-based Catholic Healthcare Partners. Several other CHP
units around Ohio also have scheduled union votes for later this month.

[RN Power Ohio]

The ground rules were not followed. There were numerous reports of the hospital campaigning for the employees to vote for SEIU!

[RNadvocate]

Online reports say that only 25% of California RNs are in a union. If CNA has such brilliant ideas about how to unite RNs it would be great if they would get started.

http://supportohiocaregivers.wordpress.com/

[RN Power Ohio]

Why not source an authoratative web site as opposed to one some one just created to bash CNA out of spite?