[Sherwood]

Originally Posted by nicurn001

Whilst as I understand from this thread you have been prepared to go as far as the US Supreme court to ensure your and your fellow nurses right not to belong to a union .
I wonder if you have been fighting so hard to ensure that your employer is in compliance with all laws ( labor and patient related )such as the minimum staffing law and laws relating to meal and rest breaks .
How do you ensure that they have the best working conditions so that they can offer the best care to their patients.

Our hospital consistantly staffs to meet the requirements of the safe staffing laws in California. In my Critical-Care Unit we actually staff RN's without a patient assignment who's role is to cover break periods.
We place nurses on "call" when possible in case things really start getting busy.

I serve as chairman of the hospital professional practice council. I chair the critical-care unit professional practice council.
I precept and orient new grads and new hires. I inservice multiple critical-care related subjects in my hospital and I teach ATCN courses outside of my facility. Constantly educating yourself and taking that education back to your peers helps nursing and helps our patients.

I do not just punch the clock at 0700 and punch out at 1930, I do not hope to get the easiest patient or patients in the unit so I can sit quietly in the corner and waiting for the next shift to arrive. Anyone and everyone I work with knows that if they need help and I can help them, I will be right there.
My charge nurses and our director knows that if something happens that I do not agree with I will right there with not just a complaint, but a possible solution. Just as in my disagreement with the unions, I will not just rollover and pull the blankets over my head. I stick my neck out and I let my voice be heard. I also don't hide behind cute avatars and anonymous nicknames.

So, what do you do?

[ingelein]

I think there is ALOT more to this saga . Thank Goodness for the CNA.

[nicurn001]

Sherwood ,I have no doubt that in things that interest you , you make great efforts in them . I am pleased to see that you advocate ,not only against Unions but also for staff . My query as to what you did in the arena of staff relations with management was prompted because I have only seen your efforts against unionization upon these threads .
Reading many of the threads upon this forum , there are many nurses who do not feel as individuals they have the ability to stand up against management .For example if you read the Texas forum , if an individual tries to stand up for individual rights they may be reported to GROUP 1 and then be blacklisted , then unable to find employment . With that threat hanging over their head , it is not surprising many , just rollover and pull the blankets over their heads. Do not stick their necks out and let their voices be heard. They also hide behind cute avatars and anonymous nicknames , in order to protect themselves from that fate.
I believe that it is only by collective action , that we can change managements course , some as yourself appear to have done it by being a leader , promoting individual responsibility , others will do it by promoting membership of a collective bargaining unit.
I believe it is bad management , acting intransigently that leads to attempts to unionize

[teeituptom]

Originally Posted by RNgonewild

Speaking of unions, a temp staffing agency just called me up today to ask if I would work as a strike buster(well temp nurse) in Northern Ca. Seems there is a strike set for two weeks from now. Pay wasn't all that great, so I'm just sitting tight!

Thats why I dont use a temp staffing agency. They get almost as much as you and they dont do a thing. I self contract. Get a lot more. and always with a minimum guarantee. Be smart about it.

[AU-RN]

Originally Posted by teeituptom

Thats why I dont use a temp staffing agency. They get almost as much as you and they dont do a thing. I self contract. Get a lot more. and always with a minimum guarantee. Be smart about it.

Hey, Im super curious as to what "self contracting" actually is and how in the world does that work? That sounds awesome. I would appreciate any info...if you would like please send me a private msg....thanks!

[AU-RN]

Btw, speaking of unions...does anyone know the current status of the california strike that's supposed to be occuring next week? Ive heard conflicting stories on whether or not its going to happen? Thanks.

[HM2Viking]

Originally Posted by MAISY, RN-ER

NJNU-At this point I am not sure anyone whould support a new union enviornment....they sure as hell aren't supporting the old one. Unfortunately, people here are complacent.....and just deal with it!

Maisy

If your local isn't doing its job the best way (IMO) is to go to meetings and do a Mother Jones routine. (Mourn the dead and fight like **** for the living.) Unions are democratic organizations and as such are run by the people who show up to meetings. Union leaders need to be held accountable for their actions like any other leaders.

[MBANurse]

SHERWOOD,
Thank you. I think that it is assinine to have to join and pay dues to an organization with which you fundamentally disagree with.
Someone stated that Unions are democratic.. no they are good ole boy (or girl) networks; where once you're in power your only goal is to stay in power. The CNA is biggest perpetrator of fraud that there is as far as unions go.

They constantly whine and cry about nursing shortage and then do everything in their power to limit the role of LVNs and allied health staff... so they can further scream injustice.... injustice.

[HM2Viking]

My challenge to you is to get involved. If you don't like the way your local runs show up for meetings. Organizations are run by the people who show up for meetings.

If we are interested in improving quality of health care unionization correlates positively with quality:

According to Professors Michael Ash and Jean Ann Seago,[4] heart attack recovery rates are higher in hospitals where nurses are unionized than in non-union hospitals.

Michael Ash and Jean Ann Seago, “The effect of registered nurses' unions on heart-attack mortality,” Industrial and Labor Relations Review, Vol. 57, No. 3 (Apr. 2004), pp. 422-442.

[blessing6]

Hey I'm an LPN that recently relocated form NY to Georgia....I've always belonged to a union being from NY, so this whole " Right to Work State" is a little unnerving...I find that their is better job protection and more respect given to employees when they (admin) understand that they answer to a collective as opposed to an individual...If your union has alot of members there is strength in numbers!!!! Also in NY when one group went on strike other unions showed support by striking with them....A heck of an incentive for the employer to get it right and be fair!!!! I'm liked to stay in the South however what's the farthest down you go before Unionization is eliminated??