unionize now

U.S.A. Oklahoma

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Why On Gods Green Earth Doesn't Oklahoma Have A Nurses Union

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
So how do you go about unionizing a hospital in Okla? Is there a union for nurses in Okla, and if so how do you contact them??
There is no union for nurses in Oklahoma at the present time. In addition, many Oklahomans are vehemently against unionization, which is the norm for states located south of the Mason-Dixon line. I'm supportive of unions, but take into consideration that I was not born and bred in this region.

I'm originally from California and attended an RN completer nursing program in Oklahoma from early 2009 to early 2010. I was shocked to find that new grad RNs in the Oklahoma City area hospitals received starting wages of $18.50 +/- hourly as recently as 2009! The overall cost of living in OKC (home prices, apartment rents, utilities, clothing, food, etc.) was similar to the cost of living in inland California cities such as Modesto, Fresno, Bakersfield, Palmdale, Lancaster, etc., yet the new grad RNs who live in these places start at $28 to $34 hourly.

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It never ceases to amaze me, that states that were formerly slave states, are ALL ANTI UNION!!

I guess that if they can't own slaves anymore, they might as well hire them. They don't seem to treat them any different.

Employees might as well BE slaves, the way they are treated. Employment at will, (no due process), right to work (for less), even BREATHE THE WORD UNION, and the boogy man (Ku Klux Klan), will force you out the door, if not Group One, you get the picture.

Someone tell me what on earth is wrong with theses people? Why would anyone willingly put up with this? Are people not aware, that in the US, we have rights? One is the right of association!

We need to start having remedial classes on the Constitution. We shoud start in nursing school

JMHO and my YANKEE $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

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Specializes in CCU.
There is no union for nurses in Oklahoma at the present time. In addition, many Oklahomans are vehemently against unionization, which is the norm for states located south of the Mason-Dixon line. I'm supportive of unions, but take into consideration that I was not born and bred in this region.

I'm originally from California and attended an RN completer nursing program in Oklahoma from early 2009 to early 2010. I was shocked to find that new grad RNs in the Oklahoma City area hospitals received starting wages of $18.50 +/- hourly as recently as 2009! The overall cost of living in OKC (home prices, apartment rents, utilities, clothing, food, etc.) was similar to the cost of living in inland California cities such as Modesto, Fresno, Bakersfield, Palmdale, Lancaster, etc., yet the new grad RNs who live in these places start at $28 to $34 hourly.

I'm glad to hear it's not just me because I never thought the cost of living in OK was that low compared to other areas. The starting pay is very low especially once living expenses and taxes are taken out. I work nights and mostly weekends to make it better but still not much. My hospital doesn't offer much tuition assistance/ loan reimbursement...only $125 for every 160 hrs of work. Sign on bonus is for 2 yrs which is not worth it because the taxes take nearly half of it. I think it's an insult.

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Evidently there are many nurses out there who do not realize that Oklahoma is the "good ole boy" system. This means that the good ole boys have banned together to keep things the way they always have been because they don't like change. Additionally, they don't want anyone to better themselves either. It has become very easy for them to keep their "thumb" on nurses. We fight and back stab each other every chance we get. While we are busy fighting, they are busy working to keep our salaries low, nurse/pt ratios high, which makes our working environments awful. We can make changes and a union is not the way to go about it. The best way is first, for us to ban TOGETHER as ONE voice. This means we have to show dignity and respect to each other which we all deserve. I personally hate politics, but we must become involved politically as many nurses with ONE voice so changes can and will be made. We have to be viewed as profession and if we keep going the way we have for many years we are much less likely to be seen as a profession. We should wake up and take action. I know many feel they don't have the energy for this... but if we all worked together we would have plenty of energy to get things changed. Just my thoughts.... 1 Oklahoma Nurse who cares.:)

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Evidently there are many nurses out there who do not realize that Oklahoma is the "good ole boy" system. This means that the good ole boys have banned together to keep things the way they always have been because they don't like change. Additionally, they don't want anyone to better themselves either. It has become very easy for them to keep their "thumb" on nurses. We fight and back stab each other every chance we get. While we are busy fighting, they are busy working to keep our salaries low, nurse/pt ratios high, which makes our working environments awful. We can make changes and a union is not the way to go about it. The best way is first, for us to ban TOGETHER as ONE voice. This means we have to show dignity and respect to each other which we all deserve. I personally hate politics, but we must become involved politically as many nurses with ONE voice so changes can and will be made. We have to be viewed as profession and if we keep going the way we have for many years we are much less likely to be seen as a profession. We should wake up and take action. I know many feel they don't have the energy for this... but if we all worked together we would have plenty of energy to get things changed. Just my thoughts.... 1 Oklahoma Nurse who cares.:)

I hate to rain on your parade, but trying to get an entire hospital to come together without a unifying body who knows what they are doing, is a step to the inemployment line, and blacklisting.

If you don't know what you are doing, have no knowledge of Employment Law, Administrative Law, and hospital policies, the hospital will make mince meat out of you.

It would be like going into court to defend yourself, and your opponent has a top notch trial lawyer on his side.

While I admire you spunk, and courage, it will get you know where in the end.

Call the National Nurses United, and have them guide you through a union organizing campaign. They are the experts!

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

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