any advice on working a strike?

caliotter3 · Jul 9, 2007

Oh, and by the way, when I worked union in another line of work, when we were preparing for picket duty, I was warned about the use of firearms (I was a greenhorn when it came to union work). Everything was explained to me in words I could understand, so I take strikes and what goes on around them very seriously.

James Huffman · Jul 9, 2007

I don't think she was endorsing anything just being truthful about what will probably happen. If the OP has never seen a strike she should be prepared for everything including the fact that some people might resort to throwing things at them or their vehicles.
IMHO, you're better off to just not cross that line.

Then perhaps we might all begin by an outright condemnation of violence and threats against our colleagues.

Suppose an African-American nurse in -- let's say 1947 -- had been the first black member of a previously all-white hospital staff, and violence had been threatened. Would we have simply warned her that she should be ready for violent attacks on her person and property? Or should there have been forthright condemnations by colleagues about such violence?

Violence and threats against nurses -- or any professionals -- is not something we should take for granted.

I also repeat what I said earlier: implying that professional nurses are "scabs" is not helpful. "Scab" is a hate-filled term, and should be retired now.

reesern63, RN · Jul 10, 2007

Any nurse who wants to do strike work has to know that it's going to be a hot-button issue. If that's what the nurse wants to do, fine...but then he/she needs to have the spine for it.

I care too much about my fellow nurses who are out there advocating for their co-workers and their pts. I would never take strike work. That's a slap in the face to those who are out there on the line. It's a fallacy to state that people strike over ridiculous issues. The majority of times, strikes are measures of last resort over intolerable work conditions that managment refuses to address. To me, strike breakers just make it easier for management to keep a bad system limping along.

So sorry, I have no sympathy for strike breakers. I'll save my shoulder to cry on for the people who really deserve it...the nurses who have the guts to say "Enough!"

HM2VikingRN, RN · Jul 10, 2007

I would not cross a picket line.

HM2VikingRN, RN · Jul 10, 2007

Let the "white coats" step out of their office and work the floor for a change. As for my family, they wouldn't cross a picket line even if they were bleeding to death! We do not have a unionized hospital where I work, but there are plenty of unions in this area. Everyone of them that I know of has been responsible for better benefits, wages, ect. in the places that have them. That's why I was told from day one that to even breathe the word union at our hospital would quickly result in your termination.

A very strong argument for card check....I agree that the best way to get a fair settlement is to let management feel the pain.

Who told you that breathing the word union would result in termination? This smacks of intimidation and interference with the right of employees to freely associate.

fergus51 · Jul 10, 2007

Be prepared for hard feelings when it's over. If this is a place you plan on working in again you will probably face a lot of resentment, if they would even consider hiring you. A friend did strike nursing and after the strike, she and every strikebreaker that travelled there to work the strike were blacklisted from the facility. She only found it out over a year later when she applied to go back on a regular assignment.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2007

I have worked many strikes

I will cross a picket line without hesitation.

I love strike pay, I hope you negotiated well for your self.

Ive seen a few people yell and I acyually had a middle finger salute. Doesnt hurt a bit.

For all these nurse who support strikes more power to them. I applaud their efforts. But I promise you there are a lot of nurse who support your decision to cross the line

Remember a "Scab" is natures way to heal a wound

suanna · Jul 13, 2007

Did you know the nursing unit had a union when you hired? If you did you agreed to accept the benifits that the union has fought for over the years. Those benifits also come with the risk that you may be called upon to participate in a strike. If you are not comfortable with that-WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE!. As for patients deserving care- the hospital gets adequate notice of a pending strike and can move patients and restrict admissions to ensure that safe care can be provided. The union I am a member of has struck 3 times in 30 years. Each strike involved a multitude of issues including floating guidelines, health insurance for families, mandatory overtime and obligation to work if called in among others. We have never had a purely financial strike but have fought for fair treatment for our nurses and for issues that promote best practice in patient care. As a result non union hospitals in the area have had to follow suit, improving nursing across the board. If you cross during a strike you damage nursings strength to get what we need for best patient care for short term personal gains.

icuwant2rn · Jul 13, 2007

Who told you that breathing the word union would result in termination? This smacks of intimidation and interference with the right of employees to freely associate.

Some of the older workers that have been there for years let me know this quickly when I started work and asked why no one had tried forming a union if they were all so unhappy. Of course, management would never fire you for trying to form a union, they would find other petty things to write you up for and fire you over.:angryfire A friend of mine is going through this right now. She voiced her opinion to our boss on some issues and wound up suspended over totally different/bogus things. One incident is from a year ago and happened under a different manager, but still wound up on the write up! How ridiculous is that!!:trout:

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 14, 2007

Did you know the nursing unit had a union when you hired? If you did you agreed to accept the benifits that the union has fought for over the years. Those benifits also come with the risk that you may be called upon to participate in a strike. If you are not comfortable with that-WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE!. As for patients deserving care- the hospital gets adequate notice of a pending strike and can move patients and restrict admissions to ensure that safe care can be provided. The union I am a member of has struck 3 times in 30 years. Each strike involved a multitude of issues including floating guidelines, health insurance for families, mandatory overtime and obligation to work if called in among others. We have never had a purely financial strike but have fought for fair treatment for our nurses and for issues that promote best practice in patient care. As a result non union hospitals in the area have had to follow suit, improving nursing across the board. If you cross during a strike you damage nursings strength to get what we need for best patient care for short term personal gains.

All strikes are really purely financial when you dig through the smoke screen

Crossing strike lines doesnt damage nursings strength at all, another myth

RN130 · Jul 23, 2007

You could be replacing me in a few weeks. We have been without a contract since March 1 and Negotiating since january..

Perhaps, before you become embroiled in such a situation, you should find out why the nurses are striking. From experience I can tell you that nurses do not come to this decision lightly.

We are dealing with the largest cathloic healthcare organization on the west coast (Providence) and Davis Wright and Tremaine--the international law firm that wrote the book for management. We are run ragged for profit -- and can not give safe quality care. Our CBA protects us and gives us a voice in how the ceare will be provided for our patients--

Along with wages issues such as FMLA, meals and breaks, guarenteed shift start times, hours worked and staffing are still on the table.

Is there a reason that you are signing up for this kind of work -- knowing, as you must that you are coming from outside and helping to destabilize the local nurses efforts at improving their working conditions?

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2007

You could be replacing me in a few weeks. We have been without a contract since March 1 and Negotiating since january..
Perhaps, before you become embroiled in such a situation, you should find out why the nurses are striking. From experience I can tell you that nurses do not come to this decision lightly.
We are dealing with the largest cathloic healthcare organization on the west coast (Providence) and Davis Wright and Tremaine--the international law firm that wrote the book for management. We are run ragged for profit -- and can not give safe quality care. Our CBA protects us and gives us a voice in how the ceare will be provided for our patients--
Along with wages issues such as FMLA, meals and breaks, guarenteed shift start times, hours worked and staffing are still on the table.
Is there a reason that you are signing up for this kind of work -- knowing, as you must that you are coming from outside and helping to destabilize the local nurses efforts at improving their working conditions?

Thanks for the heads up. Yes there is a reason for this kind of work. Big Money for working strikes. I get to travel, see different places and get paid to do so. And this really is a wondrous country. There is so much of it I havent seen yet. Just waiting on a strike to occur. Gotta love it. Yall strike and I get to travel and see things and get paid for it. Do I destabilize your efforts. I dont really think so. Not for what I get paid. Plus all my expenses and travel and lodging and even meals at some of them. In some ways what they pay for us is so costly it helps settles things for you.

So good Luck with your strike.