Opinions/comments r/t unions,nursing shortage

SFCardiacRN · Mar 26, 2006

I grew up anti-union in a right-to-work state. I believed in the paternalistic view that unions were evil and management would take good care of the workers. But I got tired of living "hand to mouth", bully managers that played favorites and changed schedules on a whim, and threats of termination for using accrued sick leave. Now I live in CA in a union hospital. My pay is fantastic, my job is protected and my union keeps the managers in check. To those who are rabidly anti-union...just wait until you're in a situation where you need one!

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2006

I grew up anti-union in a right-to-work state. I believed in the paternalistic view that unions were evil and management would take good care of the workers. But I got tired of living "hand to mouth", bully managers that played favorites and changed schedules on a whim, and threats of termination for using accrued sick leave. Now I live in CA in a union hospital. My pay is fantastic, my job is protected and my union keeps the managers in check. To those who are rabidly anti-union...just wait until you're in a situation where you need one!

You might be interested in this site. There is a condition to read just your zip and DOB and gender.

www.mlive.com

Click under NEWS heading

Unions try to get a grip on new economy

And if that doesn't pique your interest you might look at www.unionfacts.com

Now that's an eyeopener. Makes the post above your's relevant.

NO UNION IS A GOOD UNION

lindarn · Mar 26, 2006

I used to blaise about unions until I started reading this board and realised how many concessions our unions have won for us. From introduction of the "no lift" policy through to the ongoing campaign of "zero tolerance to workplace violence" we have and continue to win. Our unions speak up for us if the media adversely misrepresents nurses, they mediate on workplace disputes and they carry our professional indemnity insurance and so are a source of legal advice - free legal advice.

Gwenith,

You folks have it all over us here in the States. There has been an ever increasing anti- union, anti worker, bias here in the States in the past 20 years, and it is getting worse. I like the policies that have been institued there, and wish that some of the Aussie spirit would spread here to the US.

I have relatives in Australia (my grandfather's brother emigrated to Australia after WWII, when he couldn't obtain a visa to emigrate to the US- he had three children, who now have children, and it is one big extended family), and would love to visit them. Maybe I will some day, check it out, and never go home!

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

lindarn · Mar 26, 2006

I am one of those people who "sits on the fence" with regards to the unionization of the nursing workforce -- having worked for once for a hospital with a union and having worked for several that did not have a union.
I like the idea of collective bargaining and appreciate some of the gains that unions have made. However, like Jim Huffman said, I believe that many aspects of union activity are antiquated and non-productive. I've seen as many bad things come out of unionization as good things.
I can imagine a "perfect" union situation and would like the advantages it would bring. However, I know that, in the real world, the ideal union does not exist any more than the ideal employer exists. I'm not sure that the disadvantages that can come with unionization are worth the potential benefits except in the most extreme circumstances.
So for me, I would prefer to work in a non-union hospital ... and I know that there are some good ones out there. I would prefer to use other methods to improve working conditions for nurses, but recognize that unionization may be necessary in some cases.
llg

For those of you who claim than unionizing is antiquated, and non productive, what other alternative do you propose? For the masses, I mean? It is one thing to denigrate unions, but another to come up with a viable alternative to them. Independant contracting will not work for the masses, and for many RNs a well. It is time consuming thing to do, and just not feasible for most people, including nurses.

Until someone comes up with a better alternative to unions, and/or employers suddenly become benevolent, and care about their workers, there is no better way to achieve what unions have. In the decade +, since unions have fallen out of favor, workers rights, benefits, and pay have taken a nosedive.

Anyone else but me see a conection? Connect the dots. JMHO.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2006

For those of you who claim than unionizing is antiquated, and non productive, what other alternative do you propose? For the masses, I mean? It is one thing to denigrate unions, but another to come up with a viable alternative to them. Independant contracting will not work for the masses, and for many RNs a well. It is time consuming thing to do, and just not feasible for most people, including nurses.
Until someone comes up with a better alternative to unions, and/or employers suddenly become benevolent, and care about their workers, there is no better way to achieve what unions have. In the decade +, since unions have fallen out of favor, workers rights, benefits, and pay have taken a nosedive.
Anyone else but me see a conection? Connect the dots. JMHO.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

Why have unions fallen out of favor?

Because people have lost whole industries to their greed.

Please read www.unionfacts.com

It's eye opening. The CEO of SEIU makes $301,000 plus.

lindarn · Mar 27, 2006

Why have unions fallen out of favor?
Because people have lost whole industries to their greed.
Please read www.unionfacts.com
It's eye opening. The CEO of SEIU makes $301,000 plus.

I believe that I recently read the CEO salaries have just about QUADRUPLED in the last twenty years, if not more. CEOs in this country make FAR MORE than their counterparts in other countries. Hmm, Unions are for stonger in other countries that they are here, and workers have far grearer job protection, more time off, paid maternity leaves, etc. Now, who is the crook and who is the victim?

As for the auto makers, you could not GIVE me an American made car. They have made their own problems by continuing to make poor quality cars that still get rotten gas mileage, even with gas approaching $3 a gallon. They can't seem to figure it out without getting a handout from the feds.

I was the unlikely owner many years ago, of a Chevy Vega- a disposacar by GM. This was the product that GM gave to the American public in the face of the gas crisis back then. They deserve to go broke. Walmart has closed stores in retaliation against workers who have the audacity to vote in a union. This also happend here in Spokane. We had an aluminum factor, Kaiser Aliminum The owner is part of a mulitnational corporation. The workers went on strike for better pay and hazardous working conditions. They were on strike for awhile. The $o! closed the factory for spite and put over 2000 workers out of a job. Just because he didn't want to negotiate with them. Spokane is a small town, and the entire community felt the economic backlash, and has yet to recover. This is a also a big part of "entire industries" closing down. It happens more than unions critics want to acknowledge. Now who is greedy?

So the moral of the story is, that the American worker keeps getting &*#*, and the unions keep getting weaker, workplace protections disappear, pay goes down, and nim- rods keep trying to convince the public that we are better off without the protection of unions. And there are people who are stupid enough to believe them. PT Barnum said it best- there's a sucker born every minute.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington