HELP! Is this ethical or even legal??

[IndianaHH]

I need some opinions if this sounds perhaps not in sync with labor laws.

The home agency changed from an hourly to per visit pay last wk.

as the agency admitted to "do away with overtime".

Routine visit is only $33...doesn't matter how much time it takes. I've a pt with biwkly bowel program...an easy hour and a half. All visits are counted as 1...SOC, ROC.. IV teaching, TPN....."a pt visit is a pt visit" .(Six visits min per 8 hr day.. No pay for traveling or mileage (company states is all been factored into the ppv rate.

No pay for charting. I have an oasis to do on a pt I saw 1/6....need to do the recert that I wasn't told about at time of visit. I won't get paid for the time this wknd I am doing it.

Paid vacations are a thing of the past. If I want paid vacation I have to agree to a lower ppv rate; if I want the higher ppv, then vacation is not paid. The time off is based on 6 visits a day/ returned at only 5.5 visits a day when I want to claim the time.

Corporate showed up last wk, presented to everyone what the wages where to be... I initaled the preliminary change of status.. I voiced my disagreement to the no pay for travel time. It was poo pooed.

This wk I received a letter from HR requesting my signature to the wage changes that I "agreed" to the changes. I havent signed it... I accepted the wages to keep my employment... I DO NOT agree to the changes. I hold that as a big difference.

Could I be forced to signed the agreement letter...??? Could that become an issue? To keep my job, I have to sign?

The expected completion of charting, quality of pt care hasn't changed any.... Im tired of putting in 10-11 hrs a day to pt care and being paid for only 6 hrs..

Any suggestions?? Is this a possible labor law issue?

[sweetsugar]

FYI: The NNU does have a web page: www/nationalnursesunion.com. Check it out. I did and will update as I get information.

[tewdles, RN]

well...Michigan Nurse is a publication of Michigan Nurses Association...it is about 20 pages long and about 15 were related to NNU or a march on Lansing in one way or another. Honestly, I haven't read the issue yet.

[copperkettle]

Unions are a two-edged sword. I've been on both sides of it. With the current administration in Washington wanting to take over all of health care, we can bet that SEIU will either be knocking on your door soon, or trying to co-opt any other nursing organizations. They will collect your union dues and cause uproar in the workplace. Some workplaces NEED to have a little uproar created, but the presence of a union forever changes any good management/employee relationships. I also believe it is a mistake to believe union members have any say in what the union does. In my experience, that's a joke. Be very careful.