scab nursing

[defyinggravity2009]

tonight at work, my coworkers and I saw a fax came through around 5pm, mentioning a 'possible nursing strike' at an unnamed hospital in my state. The only other information provided was the maximum weekly pay, the need for a one-week minimum, vague mentions of all-expenses paid for transportation/lodging, and a phone number to contact if interested. When someone mentioned that they might call, another (very experienced) nurse said that they would be considered a 'scab nurse' if they crossed the picket line to work at the facility where such grievances are present.

I've never heard this term used before, although I can gather that stepping in to work at a facility where nurses are on strike doesn't exactly get greeted with smiles from colleagues. Where did it come from? Have any members of the board ever been a part of this kind of nursing? What's it like on the other side, to be the nurses that utilize collective bargaining to meet their needs?

[VersatileRN]

I've been a union RN and a Non union RN for 15 years. I'm gonna keep this short and sweet. I've worked under union most of my 15 years. Crap conditions, poor staffing, not enough money. They had their chance with me. I'm proudly transferring over to travel/scab nursing. The union has never met my expectations and the pay could be a lot better under the crap union working conditions. They never came through for me. I've waited far too long. So now all i care about is cold cash money. Can't wait to start traveling and crossing the picket lines for tons of money. I no longer call myself an RN. I'm officially a businessman / contractor. Next week I'll start my first contract bringing home double the $ my crappy union job provided me.

[heron, ASN, RN]

I've been a union RN and a Non union RN for 15 years. I'm gonna keep this short and sweet. I've worked under union most of my 15 years. Crap conditions, poor staffing, not enough money. They had their chance with me. I'm proudly transferring over to travel/scab nursing. The union has never met my expectations and the pay could be a lot better under the crap union working conditions. They never came through for me. I've waited far too long. So now all i care about is cold cash money. Can't wait to start traveling and crossing the picket lines for tons of money. I no longer call myself an RN. I'm officially a businessman / contractor. Next week I'll start my first contract bringing home double the $ my crappy union job provided me.

Sorry, not impressed. Sitting around waiting for a union to fix things for you is just as exploitive as scabbing. If your union was ineffective, you have only yourself to blame. Hope your record improves as a "businessman".

[VersatileRN]

It is because I'm earning double the money. The job hasn't changed.