Alabama RNs need a good union. A quick poll.

mmulligan23 · Aug 15, 2009

I'm about to be a Registered Nurse, and I plan to go to work in Alabama. I did a little research on unions, and this is what I found.

"Unions were incredibly useful back when Jimmy Hoffa started them. However, their need is passed, along with the rise of human rights

Unions cause inflation, since their effect is to artificially increase wages. As a result, employees can immediately afford more. By buying more, demand increases faster then does supply, so the price goes up restore the balance. And then, the employees can no longer afford the product. So the union goes on strike, and the whole cycle starts again.

Unions cause un-employment, because they drive up wages, and companies can no longer afford to employ as many workers. So, they lay off.

Unions force all members to tote the union line. Meaning to work for a firm that has a union, you MUST go on strike when they want, you MUST pay union dues, and you lose your individuality to excel at work and get paid and promoted more than others doing the same job."

tadpolern · Aug 15, 2009

mmulligan23,

Thanks for your input. I dont like the idea of having a union...but in certain situations, it's the lesser of the 2 evils. I take it from your comments you would not join a union. I probably would not as a new RN, but as a seasoned RN, seeing what I'm seeing...in my opinion, we need a voice. Good luck in your career.

mmulligan23 · Aug 16, 2009

I guess it's mainly the idea of being forced to go on strike. I don't see how that could ever be feasible and allow a nurse to keep her license. Wouldn't you have to abandon your patients if you go on strike....and if you are a member of a union and show up to work when you are supposed to be on strike (without pay) ...don't you have to pay a fine for that? I don't know all of the facts...so I could be wayyy off base.....but it wouldn't be worth my license (or my patient's life for that matter). You are right though, I may see things differently after I've worked for a while.

Do you have a Nurse's Association that you could utilize to give nurse's in your area "a voice"? I sure hope things get better for you. Good luck, and let us know how things turn out :).

allnurses Guide · Aug 16, 2009

Something to read:

http://www.calnurses.org/assets/pdf/nnoc_101.pdf

tadpolern · Aug 16, 2009

Thanks herring RN, I like what I read !

tadpolern · Aug 16, 2009

mmuligan23

Thank you also. We have contacted ASNA and ABN. No help frome the ABN persay...I wouldnt like the idea of being forced to go on a strike either...but I also dont like the idea of an unsafe patient/nurse environment. Nurses are the patients advocate. If the standard on any unit borders on being overworked, underpaid, disrespected, given no breaks, no lunches, no bathroom breaks, no time off for education, tossed from their own specialty area to work, given too many patients to feasibly care for properly and safely.....Id rather have the union, than risk a poor outcome with a patient due to unreasonable work conditions. We would have a voice in the patients best interest..and the nurses best interest.Too many hospitals are run by management that have never even worked as a staff nurse successfully and couldnt it they had too.

Wow, I am venting a bit.

mmulligan23 · Aug 16, 2009

I agree 100%! I just want to be the best nurse I can be. If a union could make me a better and more effective nurse...then that would be the way I would have to go. I just don't understand why administration can't address these issues without union intervention.

nicurn001 · Aug 17, 2009

I agree 100%! I just want to be the best nurse I can be. If a union could make me a better and more effective nurse...then that would be the way I would have to go. I just don't understand why administration can't address these issues without union intervention.

Simple ,unfortunately ,all the bean counters care about is the bottom line .Patients and the nurses who care for them ,unfortunately are a necessary evil, in the way of making profit .

mobilsurgrn · Sep 7, 2009

Things are going downhill quickly for RNs in the Birmingham, AL area. We need representation.
Please help in answering a quick poll.
1. I dont think there are any Nursing Unions organized in Alabama. Correct me if I am wrong. If there are unions, where?
2. If you are an RN in the Birmingham, AL region would you join/support a nurses union.
3. Would you, as an RN, not be willing to join a Union for fear of employer retaliation?
Any input is appreciated.[/
I am a Samford/UAB grad, worked in 3 Birmingham hospitals. I think CNA/NNOC (who I suspect is represented in this thread somewhere) will successfully organize a Birmingham hospital when hell freezes over...jeez- it's come down to places like Fort Smith and Birmingham now. Surely there aren't any unhappy, underpaid, no-voice-having, no-dues-paying California nurses left, right?

forrester · Sep 17, 2009

Things are going downhill quickly for RNs in the Birmingham, AL area. We need representation.
Please help in answering a quick poll.
1. I dont think there are any Nursing Unions organized in Alabama. Correct me if I am wrong. If there are unions, where?
2. If you are an RN in the Birmingham, AL region would you join/support a nurses union.
3. Would you, as an RN, not be willing to join a Union for fear of employer retaliation?
Any input is appreciated.[/
I am a Samford/UAB grad, worked in 3 Birmingham hospitals. I think CNA/NNOC (who I suspect is represented in this thread somewhere) will successfully organize a Birmingham hospital when hell freezes over...jeez- it's come down to places like Fort Smith and Birmingham now. Surely there aren't any unhappy, underpaid, no-voice-having, no-dues-paying California nurses left, right?
Just a thought, but a coherent post might stimulate some discussion.

1smrtnurse · Sep 19, 2010

Yes, I am a member of a Union, their is a union at the Veteran's hospital here in Birmingham, Al. Best thing I did when I joined the union, have had to go to them and got much needed assistance when really needed with problems due to floor nursing, and supervisors with no retaliation, had a very good union rep who knew laws from left to right and top to bottom. Still a member and will continue to always be a member. Well worth the dues!!!!