Who Says Unions Are Bad? Not True!

[Sheri257]

Spacenurse posted this on the California board, but I couldn't help but think about all of the anti-union people who claim unions are bad and, even, that the California Nurses Association doesn't deserve credit or, really do anything for nurses.

Nurses Back Bill That Cuts Lifting:

First Law in the Nation to Prohibit Manual Lifting, Require "Lift Teams"

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/09/03/BAG4A8J7C21.DTL

http://www.sacbee.com/content/business/v-print/story/10610786p-11529467c.html

http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~1726~2377985,00.html

"The bill, which is sponsored by the California Nurses Association, passed the Legislature last week. More than 4,000 registered nurses have sent letters to the governor urging him to sign the bill, CNA officials said. On Thursday, health care workers rallied outside UC medical centers throughout the state, as well as in front of UC headquarters in Oakland, to protest UC's opposition to the bill and urge the governor to sign it ...

Fifty-two percent of all nurses complain of back pain, according to the bill's text, and 12 percent who leave the nursing profession say back pain is a contributing or main factor in their decision."

Between this and the CNA sponsored ratio law, where the number of patients per nurse goes down to five next year ... unions are really worthless, heh?

Maybe there are some bad unions, but this is NOT one of them. And nurses have never accomplished this much on their own ... that's for sure.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I will watch this bill with interest. Thanks for the links.

[DARLENEDAVIS]

spacenurse posted this on the california board, but i couldn't help but think about all of the anti-union people who claim unions are bad and, even, that the california nurses association doesn't deserve credit or, really do anything for nurses.

nurses back bill that cuts lifting:

first law in the nation to prohibit manual lifting, require "lift teams"

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/09/03/bag4a8j7c21.dtl

http://www.sacbee.com/content/business/v-print/story/10610786p-11529467c.html

http://www.oaklandtribune.com/stories/0,1413,82~1726~2377985,00.html

"the bill, which is sponsored by the california nurses association, passed the legislature last week. more than 4,000 registered nurses have sent letters to the governor urging him to sign the bill, cna officials said. on thursday, health care workers rallied outside uc medical centers throughout the state, as well as in front of uc headquarters in oakland, to protest uc's opposition to the bill and urge the governor to sign it ...

fifty-two percent of all nurses complain of back pain, according to the bill's text, and 12 percent who leave the nursing profession say back pain is a contributing or main factor in their decision."

between this and the cna sponsored ratio law, where the number of patients per nurse goes down to five next year ... unions are really worthless, heh?

maybe there are some bad unions, but this is not one of them. and nurses have never accomplished this much on their own ... that's for sure.

i wish we had more unions for nurses i work in texas and they will never have a union here and i truly believe this is one state that really needs a union to defend both the nurses rights but also the patients....especially the nurse patient ratios....whew...of course my hospital would find a way to fire me if i ever publicly voiced complaints/concerns

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

i wish we had more unions for nurses i work in texas and they will never have a union here and i truly believe this is one state that really needs a union to defend both the nurses rights but also the patients....especially the nurse patient ratios....whew...of course my hospital would find a way to fire me if i ever publicly voiced complaints/concerns

i am in texas also, and i agree w/ you- any talk of organizing here and a nurse is instantly fired.

wonderful news for cali nurses, lizz!

[begalli]

As everyone may or may not know, we can also thank the CNA for the CA staffing ratio laws.