[HM2Viking]

I have no doubt that you are a hardworking professional. I will simply point out that as a union member I would stick up for you regardless of our personal history if you ever had an arbitrary or capricious manager treating you unfairly.

What have unions accomplished for all workers?
Unions have made life better for all working Americans by helping to pass laws ending child labor, establishing the eight-hour day, protecting workers’ safety and health and helping create Social Security, unemployment insurance and the minimum wage, for example. Unions are continuing the fight today to improve life for all working families in America.

http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/uni...nderForPrint=1

"Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living."
"There are no limits to which powers of privilege will not go to keep the workers in slavery."
"The future is in labor's strong, rough hands." http://www.laborheritage.org/MJones.html Mother Jones exemplifies the spirit of Labor.

[ingelein]

Originally Posted by stevielynn

And you and every union proponent have received direct benefits from the efforts of people like me who work hard as a professional nurse and don't put up with any nonsense.

steph

There is a mistaken belief that a non unionized nurse can protect herself/himself from an unscrupulous employer. THINK AGAIN.There have been nurses on this forum that have been wrongly terminated for reporting in good faith illegal and unethical doings by their employer, in some states they are protected by a whistleblower law, in many states they have no protections at all. It is our DUTY to report to the oversight agencies, this is spelled out in the nurse practice act. The employer will not hesitate to get rid of an employee they feel will be a threat to them.They have VERY POWERFUL lawfirms that work for them and large resources to pay for them. Until you have been involved in a employer/ employee dispute, especially if it concerns whistleblower/retaliation, dont be so sure that you can handle your employment situation or that your employer has the ethical desire to treat you fairly. A union is covered by laws of the NLRB which allows you certain legal protections. I know this FIRST HAND, am still involved in a lawsuit with my former employer.It CAN happen to you.

[HM2Viking]

Originally Posted by ingelein

There is a mistaken belief that a non unionized nurse can protect herself/himself from an unscrupulous employer. THINK AGAIN.There have been nurses on this forum that have been wrongly terminated for reporting in good faith illegal and unethical doings by their employer, in some states they are protected by a whistleblower law, in many states they have no protections at all. It is our DUTY to report to the oversight agencies, this is spelled out in the nurse practice act. The employer will not hesitate to get rid of an employee they feel will be a threat to them.They have VERY POWERFUL lawfirms that work for them and large resources to pay for them. Until you have been involved in a employer/ employee dispute, especially if it concerns whistleblower/retaliation, dont be so sure that you can handle your employment situation or that your employer has the ethical desire to treat you fairly. A union is covered by laws of the NLRB which allows you certain legal protections. I know this FIRST HAND, am still involved in a lawsuit with my former employer.It CAN happen to you.

. Plus, the efforts of labor organizers are directed improving the lot of all workers because everybody does better when everybody does better.

I dealt with a manager who was both a bully and a liar. I was able to transfer to an equivalent job because of a union negotiated settlement on my behalf. She hurt me in the short run but I will be an RN in 6 months and end up with a 20-25% raise over my previous position. Thats why I call out with data and statistics every anti-union complainer that I meet on these boards to show how and why they are wrong in their beliefs about unions. In the longer run union members have better wages, and working conditions than non-union members.

Dues are a dirt cheap insurance policy for economic security against capricious managers.

Life in the libertarian Paradise:

Wal-Mart Below Retail Industry Standard on Healthcare Spending

In 2002, US retailers spent an average of $4,834 per covered employee on health benefits alone.177 In 2005, Wal-Mart spent, an estimated average of, at most, $3,620 per covered employee on all worker benefits plans combined, including health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, long-term disability benefits, temporary disability benefits, and death benefits.178 No precise spending figure is available, however, because Wal-Mart has not publicly disclosed the total number of workers enrolled in its benefits plans. In our calculations, we divided Wal-Mart’s total benefits spending only by the number of workers enrolled in the AMP, though this number is likely far lower than the total covered by at least one benefits plan. Moreover, while Wal-Mart paid roughly 64 percent of the premiums for its employees’ health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, long-term disability benefits, temporary disability benefits, and death benefits in 2005, retail firms nationwide in 2005 reportedly averaged 77 percent of the healthcare premiums for single coverage and 70 percent for family coverage and, in 2006, 80 percent for single coverage and 68 percent for family coverage.179

http://hrw.org/reports/2007/us0507/5.htm

I'll pass on working in a nonunion hospital/clinic.

With Walmart opening 400 clinics we will see significant pressure from management to reduce health care coverage. Somehow I don't think that it will be possible for individuals to negotiate their own best deals in this kind of environment. EVERY TIME WALMART ENTERS A SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY EMPLOYEES IN THAT SECTOR SUFFER WAGE REDUCTIONS. Watch "The High Cost Of Low Prices" by Robert Greenwald.

[BNThere]

i was able to 'retire' @ 55 d/t the union's influence. . otherwise didn't see much support in our 'shop'. there was even a lawsuit to get rid of an ineffective one! hospitals should take care of their employees, not force another level of expensive bureaucracy upon us.

[SandraRN]

Gee Steph, I'm really confused. Judgemental? Do you even reread your own comments? "they had on suits that looked like the mafia and wore rings with big "rocks". HMMMM!! You obviously didn't give those suits the time of day or even bothered to listen to them without "judgement".
And of course your not afraid of your employer because you probably jump ship for the slightest of reasons. Why don't you elaborate on how you made your workplace a better place? That is, not for yourself, but your coworker and the patients you care for.
And by the way, I haven't seen the word "stupid" in any of these threads. And I have reread mine and don't see it. Would you care to correct that comment?
sandi

Originally Posted by stevielynn

Wow. What a judgmental bunch of crock.

I do make my work environment a better and safer place. I'm not afraid of management - that is just silly. I can get a job anywhere - I'm not the type to bend over and grab my ankles for anyone.

As to the comment about the union reps . . . it doesn't matter whether the diamond rings were real or not. You missed my point completely. These union reps came to a rural community made up of hardworking people and they dressed like someone from a big city - they had on suits that looked like the mafia and wore rings with big "rocks". It certainly made us think about where exactly they got the money for those big rings. It certainly didn't make a good impression - they were trying to woo us and it backfired.

Calling people stupid for having a different opinion is not conducive to a good conversation.

I'm not a union buster - if the majority of nurses voted one in - so be it. I believe in letting the majority have what they want. I'd just go elsewhere. Simple.

steph

[SandraRN]

Well, PLEASE, don't come to my city or for that matter my hospital. Again I see that judgemental side of you. Not one person at any of our hospitals are forced to pay union dues. I choose to pay union dues because I have seen how the union has improved my work conditions. I am disappointed that others choose not to. That is their decision. I'm quite happy to pay an avg. of 1 hours wages a month to support that. Especially when it has helped me get better wages, health insurance, etc.. It looks to me you need to do a little more research on unions and shops. Your comments sound like typical managements misinformation!

Originally Posted by stevielynn

Hey, if there was an opt-out clause and I didn't have to pay union dues, I'd stay.

But I will not work anywhere where I'm forced to join a union.

Just a personal thing.

steph

[HM2Viking]

Originally Posted by SandraRN

Well, PLEASE, don't come to my city or for that matter my hospital. Again I see that judgemental side of you. Not one person at any of our hospitals are forced to pay union dues. I choose to pay union dues because I have seen how the union has improved my work conditions. I am disappointed that others choose not to. That is their decision. I'm quite happy to pay an avg. of 1 hours wages a month to support that. Especially when it has helped me get better wages, health insurance, etc.. It looks to me you need to do a little more research on unions and shops. Your comments sound like typical managements misinformation!

Good post.

http://nursesrev.advocateoffice.com/...F-184987726DE4}

[RN130]

In Some Fashion Nurses Need To Collectively Join Together To Make Their Voices Heard.

If You Feel That You Can "negotiate" The Best Deal For Yourself--i Have No Way To Evaluate What You Think A "good Deal" Is. But For Nurses, Often It Is Not Such An "individual Case" Issue -- How Is Your Healthcare Benefit? Your Disability Plan? Vacation And Sick Leave.....those Are All Negotiated By The Employer For Groups --not Individuals.

In Terms Of A Voice For Nursing Right Now It Is The Various Unions That Are Going To Management In Individual Cases And To The Legislature For Improving Working Conditions (no Mandatory Overtime/ Safe Lifting/staffing,meals And Breaks) For Everyone.

How Do You Think Laws Regarding Nurse Practice, Education, Patient Safety, Insurance Coverage, Etc Come Into Play--groups Get Together Representing The Interests Of Their Members --if Your Hospital Is A Member Of A State Hospital Association That Is Their Union,

[teeituptom]

Originally Posted by HM2Viking

All it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing. Decert=stupid as far as I am concerned.

This is rather uncalled for, decent=stupid. Totally an inappropiate statement and also a highly incorrect one.

[teeituptom]

Originally Posted by stevielynn

Wow. What a judgmental bunch of crock.

I do make my work environment a better and safer place. I'm not afraid of management - that is just silly. I can get a job anywhere - I'm not the type to bend over and grab my ankles for anyone.

As to the comment about the union reps . . . it doesn't matter whether the diamond rings were real or not. You missed my point completely. These union reps came to a rural community made up of hardworking people and they dressed like someone from a big city - they had on suits that looked like the mafia and wore rings with big "rocks". It certainly made us think about where exactly they got the money for those big rings. It certainly didn't make a good impression - they were trying to woo us and it backfired.

Calling people stupid for having a different opinion is not conducive to a good conversation.

I'm not a union buster - if the majority of nurses voted one in - so be it. I believe in letting the majority have what they want. I'd just go elsewhere. Simple.

steph

I am a Union Buster

I am a strike buster also. Love those strike wage contracts Ive gotten. paid for a lot of golf.

Unions dont make a better work place, unless you call an enviroment of mas mediocrity a better enviroment.