Nurses Activism
Published Mar 6, 2013
Teachers, Police, Firefighters, Military, Government City/State and Nursing. What do they all have in common? Early Retirement Benefits!
Whoopsies...all except for nursing.
Whatsup with THAT....
Anyone?
lkulmann
133 Posts
My thinking is this...nursing is a strenuous job and I think that 25yrs and we're done. Full pension/ benefits etc... then pursue a second. Career or do public health or pose for playboy..lol. whatever or do nothing. We seasoned nurses pass down our knowledge to the new nurses instead of eating our young. Management gets new fresh thinkers and on an on...with obamacare, we don't need employee benefits...
I couldn't have planned it better...
This union needs members and nurses need unity....tadaaaa!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/07/richard-trumka-afl-cio-speech_n_2828671.html
nursej22, MSN, RN
3,854 Posts
Unions are characterized as greedy, organized-crime thugs, and as such have lost favor with the public. More and more states have become right-to-work(for less) and are stripping away rights to bargain for better working conditions. So good luck convincing corporations who must maximize profits to hand over pensions to anyone.
Well the way I see it is on a national level. If you need nurses you need to agree to the union bylaws...almost like an Agency nurse.
So, I live in CT. I contact the union to see who's hiring. Hospitals, nursing homes and all healthcare facilities deal directly with the union. So they say XYZ has xyz position. You apply you get the job and all that comes with it. Unions would focus on complaints, working conditions, benefits, and many other perks.
Music in My Heart
1 Article; 4,109 Posts
The people you mentioned all have great benefits because they are public employees and taxpayers foot the bill.
Not all unionized employees receive pensions, ie. private industry employees.
My husband is an airline pilot, unionized - no pension.
His union negotiates work rules, hourly pay, rest periods, etc.
It depends on the industry and whether it is in the public/private sector.
Personally, I have an issue with government employees being unionized, but I'll save that for another day.
brownbook
3,413 Posts
I don't understand much of anything about pensions, retirement, social security.
When I was a young adult I assumed I and my husband would work, live within our means, save what we could, and, baring unforeseen circumstances, take care of ourselves in our "old age", i.e., retirement.
Honest to God I thought social security was only for people who needed aid, I knew taxes were taken out of my paycheck but thought that money was for those in need, not for my retirement.
Consequently my husband and I still live modestly, have a lot of money in our retirements accounts, and are doing fine thank you very much.
Just saying......?
PS I am a fiscally conservative bleeding heart democrat. I would be happy to have social security be means tested.
Soooo...early retirement pension...nurses should be eligible for the serve 20-25yrs and you are DONE pension. It would remedy several chronic problems in our profession. Competitiveness will never go away but it wouldn't be so passive aggressive. Old washed up nurse managers can go...give new nurses and seasoned nurses opportunities to keep the profession up to date and progressive. Nurses could share their knowledge and experience freely and not worry that she will be replaced by newer nurses who have a more up to date education etcetera.. Nurses need to unite and unionized. There is power in numbers.
timmedico
218 Posts
Because nobody wants a good nurse to retire, especially early!
Violach
244 Posts
Wow...breaking apart my entire post... really? Do you have a lot of free time on your hands? I never said ALL public employees receive great benefits, nor did I say that all private sector employees do not. But generally speaking, government employees do receive better benefits than private sector employees. By the way, most airlines, both majors and regionals, have phased out pensions or are in the process of doing so. My husband and I worked in the industry for many years, so please refrain from trying to school me. Don't blame the workers for asking? Did you see the recent protests that took place in Michigan when it became a RTW state? Or how about the union members that protested in Wisconsin? I would hardly call that "asking."
Looking back, I realize I did say "all," but that is not what I meant. I was trying to generalize.
Well these big organizations can offer discounted rates on anything when they have group rates. 401,403, healthcare, auto, movie tickets and on and on and on...most important protection and representation. How many nurses in the US. And of course union dues or not if you choose not to join....
Wow...breaking apart my entire post... really?
Do you have a lot of free time on your hands?
I never said ALL public employees receive great benefits, nor did I say that all private sector employees do not.
But generally speaking, government employees do receive better benefits than private sector employees.
By the way, most airlines, both majors and regionals, have phased out pensions or are in the process of doing so. My husband and I worked in the industry for many years, so please refrain from trying to school me.
Don't blame the workers for asking? Did you see the recent protests that took place in Michigan when it became a RTW state? Or how about the union members that protested in Wisconsin? I would hardly call that "asking."
I will say that I find it hypocritical when people who benefit from unions criticize others who also do.