3 nurses for and 3 against union

[LilRedRN1973]

Hi,

I'm 2 weeks away from the end of my program and will be doing a presentation on the advantages and disadvantage of union nursing. I need to hear from 3 nurses who are either part of a union or planning to join to find out why they think it benefits them and why they joined.

I also need to hear from 3 nurses who either have no interest in joining or were once part of a union and no longer are. Also, if you could state your reasons for not being a union member, that would be great.

When responding, if you could put a sentence or two regarding how long you've been a nurse, your specialty, and what area of the country you're in, that would be terrific.

I thank everyone in advance who is able to help me in this project. I really want to inform my nursing class about unions, what they are and the pros and cons so that they can make their own decision about whether to join.

Melanie

Graduate May 2005

[LilRedRN1973]

Anyone out there????

Melanie

[markjrn]

I work in Canada in the SICU, so I don't know if I will be of any value to you. In my province you have no choice but to be a part of the union. Initially I thought that was ok (they're fighting for the greater good, I believe), but now I'm not so sure. It seems the nurses here now are more concerned about politics and getting what they deserve and getting everything they can, that patient care is being pushed aside. At times I am embarrassed by my colleagues behaviour, and it saddens me.