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| No. 40 | 
Dec 28, 2008, 08:13 PM
 Re: Descrimination: A full hot meal or soup and a sandwich Originally Posted by gonzo1  I usually work 12 hours with no break. Sometimes I bring something from home and eat it at my computer while charting in between doing things for my patients.
I would think sandwich and a soup is great. It would make for a great diet plan too because I gain weight from eating candy bars because I am hungry and they fit in my pocket so easy.
I don't think you are going to get a lot of sympathy from most of us. However, it is unfair if some workers are getting a full meal and not every one. So I do hope that you pursue this and win an equitable solution.
I'm hoping that people here are not thinking that I'm trying to gain any kind of sympathy. I appreciate all too well that countless nurses and aides are working so hard that they barely get any breaks at all. I've worked a countless number of shifts like that myself over the past 12 plus years.
The primary reason for starting this particular thread with this topic is that I'm a huge advocate for equality and have very little patience for any employer who takes advantage of their workers. This case has definitely created alot of friction among the staff which as I indicated is completely unnecesary.
Several years ago a nurse told me something that I will never forget. She told me that management love it when staff are fighting amongst themselves because it's less energy and/or fighting that's directed towards them. The Director of Nursing in this case has suceeded in creating unnecesary conflict amongst the staff. In fighting this issue, I'm also trying to end this conflict that she herself has deliberately created.
All health care workers deserve to be treated with the respect that they deserve and not be descriminated against in any way shape or form.
For those nurses who aren't getting their breaks, I feel for you because it's not doing your health any good and can be a contributing factor to early burnout. Please take care of yourselves.
 | | Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 41 |
Dec 28, 2008, 08:24 PM
Re: Descrimination: A full hot meal or soup and a sandwich
I think it's a great idea to file a grievance. This way everyone will be equal and no one will have an opportunity in your facility to be fed when it is decided you all get nothing. Then you will be like all of us, brownbagging it.
Personally, as the owner or manager of this facility I would think that you were all ungrateful. The needs of the patients, and budgets are why things are scheduled the way they are. There must be a reason lunches were scheduled the way they were. All of you eating a meal is just a nice extra, which I am sure you will lose if this is pushed. If they want conflict they will have it, your RNs will just love you guys, and think of all of the CNAs who may not be able to afford spending extra for lunch. Why do people cut their noses off to spite their faces?
There are so many important things in this world to complain about, if this is the only issue your facility has then that is amazing!
| | No. 45 |
Dec 28, 2008, 09:22 PM
Re: Descrimination: A full hot meal or soup and a sandwich
I'd be more upset if a free service was "unequal"
If you're paying for it anyway, then it's business. It costs them less to offer a certain product earlier in the day (sandwiches can be made ahead (or salad bar style) and soup in large volume, so there's less labor involved. So since this is capitalism, vote with your wallet. Don't buy the soup/sandwich, bring your own food.
I also work nights, so I couldn't buy a hot meal even if I wanted to eat the gruel my cafeteria serves. I'm happier with the food I bring and heat up myself.
| | No. 46 |
Dec 28, 2008, 09:34 PM
Re: Descrimination: A full hot meal or soup and a sandwich
While this appears to be about discrimination, first and foremost, it's about the employer's breach of contract. The meals aren't "a nice extra" or something "terrific" that's been offered by the employer, as previous posters have noted. They are a benefit negotiated by the union as part of the workers' compensation package. By offering a lesser benefit than what was negotiated, the employer appears to be in breach.
Is it worth a grievance? Consider that an employer's past practices are legally binding. So potentially if the union allows the employer to offer a lesser benefit to this group of employees, then theoretically, it must permit the employer to offer that same lesser benefit to another group, without negotiation. The employer gets away with violating contract provisions if the union allows it. It's a slippery slope. What benefit is the next to go?
I'm disappointed, but not surprised, that so many posters respond with arguments along the lines of "shut up and be grateful, because that's more than I get." Instead of condemning the OP for standing up for her rights, these posters might want to ask themselves why they begrudge someone else a benefit. Why is the argument always "but I don't get that benefit" instead of "why don't I get that benefit, too?"
Yes, employers have financial limits, especially in this economy. But that doesn't mean that workers don't have rights. Union contracts and compensation provisions can be changed through negotiation, not unilateral action. As for the OP, I hope she remembers that unions are as powerful as their members choose to be.
| | No. 47 |
Dec 28, 2008, 09:37 PM
Re: Descrimination: A full hot meal or soup and a sandwich
For some reason I think the OP is Canadian.
We Canadians take our unions very seriously. Contracts are negotiated long, hard, and with every detail included. Chances are the nursing home is either provincially funded or a not-for-profit. Most RNs and PNs are in effect public servants. We've just had to explain all of this to an American nurse who came north to work. We had to explain that paid sick leave and annual vacation are two separate items. She thought she had to use paid vacation time to be sick, sheesh.
Grieve this one until the cows come home because management is playing favourites with which contract they are deciding to honour. To put it simply, under the contracts, it's not the Directors call to make. She's deciding to honour the RN contract and not the contract covering "ancilliary staff"
| | No. 48 |
Dec 28, 2008, 09:48 PM
Re: Descrimination: A full hot meal or soup and a sandwich Originally Posted by freedom42 while this appears to be about discrimination, first and foremost, it's about the employer's breach of contract. The meals aren't "a nice extra" or something "terrific" that's been offered by the employer, as previous posters have noted. They are a benefit negotiated by the union as part of the workers' compensation package. By offering a lesser benefit than what was negotiated, the employer appears to be in breach.
Is it worth a grievance? Consider that an employer's past practices are legally binding. So potentially if the union allows the employer to offer a lesser benefit to this group of employees, then theoretically, it must permit the employer to offer that same lesser benefit to another group, without negotiation. The employer gets away with violating contract provisions if the union allows it. It's a slippery slope. What benefit is the next to go?
I'm disappointed, but not surprised, that so many posters respond with arguments along the lines of "shut up and be grateful, because that's more than i get." instead of condemning the op for standing up for her rights, these posters might want to ask themselves why they begrudge someone else a benefit. Why is the argument always "but i don't get that benefit" instead of "why don't i get that benefit, too?"
yes, employers have financial limits, especially in this economy. But that doesn't mean that workers don't have rights. Union contracts and compensation provisions can be changed through negotiation, not unilateral action. As for the op, i hope she remembers that unions are as powerful as their members choose to be.
bingo!
| | No. 49 |
Dec 28, 2008, 10:03 PM
Re: Descrimination: A full hot meal or soup and a sandwich
Like I said before, if this is the only problem facing your facility that is great!
Unions are only as good as the people running them, unfortunately my exposures have only been with idiots!
I have been on both sides of the fence as management and worker, as a worker I would much rather have compensation in money than in hot food. However some brilliant soul thought that was a good idea to place in the contract, probably has kept your pay down.
Anyway, if costs have risen and the facility needs to make cuts than it will make cuts. As I said before, your peers will be thrilled when they lose the ability to get lunch when it is eradicated for all! And it will be to make it fair. The truth is the lunch times haven't been changed, and we haven't heard why they are set up that way. There must be a reason. Truthfully, I think there is alot more to this than you've said.
To the union people, I agree unions have created good work environments for the masses (history says it all), but have also caused lots of problems for business including maintaining bad workers who take up space and don't pull their weight. Protections hurt us as much as help us, cost us money, and place us in adversarial positions with our managers.
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