Another reason unions suck!

Nurses Union

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Trying to get a vacation as a new RN under a union regime is challenging at best. It's all seniority based. So the senior RNs can basically come and go as they choose. But that means the rest of us cannot be off (even though we don't cover each other or know each other's job). Also the silly union made a rule that managers cannot approve vacations to far out. So if someone knows they want a certain week 2 years from now, they cannot secure it and start booking flights or whatever. It's irritating at best.

The difference is that the union derives its power from its members and ultimately answers to them. The corporation derives its power from its shareholders and ultimately answers to them.

You don't really believe that do you. You are as insignificant to a union as you are to your employer.

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Specializes in PCCN.

I can't believe that some one who abhors a union so much would even associate/ take employment with an employer that has one.

Oh,I guess it's because you want a job. With all the perks.

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I am not a nurse. I am planning to enter a nursing program in 2016. Having said that, I am a lawyer and sociologist by education and training who currently works in state government. A decade ago, I represented domestic violence victims in employment issues. Currently, I am a strong union activist, so I wanted to chime in. I hope you don't mind.

The union = dues paying employees. Saying your union sucks is really saying your co-workers suck. The main issue is a contract issue and not a union issue. If you think your input is valuable, then you should run to be on your collective bargaining team.

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.
You don't really believe that do you. You are as insignificant to a union as you are to your employer.

As a voting member, I have as much influence over the union as I can muster politically. By attending local and regional meetings, I can make my voice heard. The degree to which I can sell my viewpoints to others nurses, I can create a voting block which can influence the union's power structure.

The union is trying to sell itself and its services to nurses. To that end, it seeks to influence public policy in ways that it believes are beneficial to nurses and will convince nurses to join its ranks (that is, buy its services). It likewise seeks to negotiate contracts that are beneficial to its members and potential members (that is, customers and potential customers). As with any service-selling organization, it has to convince customers that its services are worth buying.

As a customer, I matter to the union just as the hospital's customers matter to them. It is the corporation to whom I matter not at all beyond my ability to fill in a slot on the schedule. As any other licensed nurse can fill that slot, I am insignificant to them.

As an individual, at-will employee, the employer-employee relationship is stacked in favor of the one with the money, the lawyers, and the ability to terminate the relationship for no reason at all. Given that there are far more nurses wanting to fill my position than there are hospitals with open positions, the power is all theirs. Except, that is, when the nurses act as a group. In that way, it is much more costly to the corporation to disregard the nurses and hence generally better working conditions.

If you believe that your union is not serving the best interests of your nurses, get it decertified. I'm sure your employer would be delighted.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I find the discussions about unionization interesting, because nursing is unionized across Canada and we really don't have the option to opt out. It is what it is for us.

Some unions are stronger than others, as we have a national and Provincial union. The benefit is strength in numbers which has resulted in fair working conditions for all nurses.

Management cannot discipline without cause or terminate anyone "at will". Unfortunately, sometimes that means we have to work with incompetent staff, but there is a process in place for terminating incompetent staff. Termination just takes longer than we would like for those people.

The unions some of you despise paved the way for fair working conditions in general, union or not.

I am now in a non union position, as all management is but thanks to the union, my working conditions are similar.

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I really don't understand why y'all try to change people's minds.

Flu, guns, unions...

There is no debate here, it's all rant. Ranters don't care about rationality, they just want to scream. If you want to make a difference, find someone who is listening, not screaming.

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I really don't understand why y'all try to change people's minds.

Flu, guns, unions...

There is no debate here, it's all rant. Ranters don't care about rationality, they just want to scream. If you want to make a difference, find someone who is listening, not screaming.

Exactly. I know I'm right. Even though I like to see what the union liberals do try to use for rationalization.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

So Ruger8mm, if you know you're right, why bother starting a post? Our opinions shouldn't matter one way or the other anyway.

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Here you go Liberal. Maybe this will help you understand.

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So Ruger8mm, if you know you're right, why bother starting a post? Our opinions shouldn't matter one way or the other anyway.

He just wants his own platform. Probably everyone in his real life tells him to stuff it.

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So Ruger8mm, if you know you're right, why bother starting a post? Our opinions shouldn't matter one way or the other anyway.

Your opinions don't matter to me. I'm bored and wanted to trash unions.

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He just wants his own platform. Probably everyone in his real life tells him to stuff it.

Actually my family and most my fellow family practice RNs agree with me about unions and socialism.

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