Another reason unions suck!

Published

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.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
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.

Unfortunately, many people are selfish, caring only about themselves. It's an "I've got mine, nuts to you" mentality.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Oh, and just for giggles. I'll share something with you guys now. Many of my family members and friends are upper management including some CEOs.

Big wow.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Maybe I'm one of the odd ones, but I do happen to think that vacations should be seniority based. Now, that doesn't mean that the senior nurses should be able to get all the holiday weeks, the prime weeks, etc. However, my feeling is that if a nurse has worked in the same place for 15, 20, 25, 30 years, there should be some perk for that. Many nurses stay in a place for 3 to 5 years, then go someplace else. Treating them the same as the nurses that have been there for decades doesn't seem right to me. There should be a "reward" for nurses that stay in the same place for decades. As someone who has been a nurse for 28 years, I would hope that I would be treated differently than a new grad or a nurse who was just hired. Now, like I said, I don't think senior nurses should be able to get EVERYTHING, but they did their time & paid their dues. I think in ANY job, a person must do their time & pay their dues to work up knowledge, experience & skills. When new nurses are treated like experienced, older nurses, I take issue with that. Say what you want, but this is my opinion.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Try getting consistent vacation time without a union. Also what happens when you reach the seniority when you can take your vacation? Would you not want the same opportunity as your senior nurses have? You should be earning seniority as you go, just as you do with your skills. I highly doubt you more senior colleagues come and go as they please. May be wise to do the research on why unions came to be!

Something to think aboutm

Sue McIntyre

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Maybe I'm one of the odd ones, but I do happen to think that vacations should be seniority based. Now, that doesn't mean that the senior nurses should be able to get all the holiday weeks, the prime weeks, etc. However, my feeling is that if a nurse has worked in the same place for 15, 20, 25, 30 years, there should be some perk for that. Many nurses stay in a place for 3 to 5 years, then go someplace else. Treating them the same as the nurses that have been there for decades doesn't seem right to me. There should be a "reward" for nurses that stay in the same place for decades. As someone who has been a nurse for 28 years, I would hope that I would be treated differently than a new grad or a nurse who was just hired. Now, like I said, I don't think senior nurses should be able to get EVERYTHING, but they did their time & paid their dues. I think in ANY job, a person must do their time & pay their dues to work up knowledge, experience & skills. When new nurses are treated like experienced, older nurses, I take issue with that. Say what you want, but this is my opinion.

I think there are a lot of facilities whose focus is completely on recruitment with zero focus on retention. Yes, those who have been there for years deserve some perks. Too bad loyalty doesn't get anywhere anymore and unions have become necessary because common decency and respect for loyalty disappeared.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.
Try getting consistent vacation time without a union.

The ONLY guarantee one has when being in a union is a smaller paycheck due to union dues.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Whether you choose to believe it or not those unions are why you have what you do, like that $80,000 a year paycheck. Suck it up and quit ******** or get a non Union job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Oh, and just for giggles. I'll share something with you guys now. Many of my family members and friends are upper management including some CEOs.

I'm privy to all kinds of stories of how unions use ghetto and mafia tactics to try and get their way.

I'm sure it's not like upper management has any bias against unions or any agenda or anything.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg crit care, coronary care, PACU,.

Once upon a time, we were all new nurses with the same issues. What is the point of staying at a job, if you don't earn perks? Do I think it's fair you can't get vacation? No. Do you have the right as a new nurse to take earned benefit away from someone more senior? No as well. Union facilities historically have been there to protect nurses rights, which over our history has been difficult to obtain without someone with clout (ie unions) to do battle for us. Unions are not perfect, but try to imagine negotiating your work environment where the person who yells the loudest gets all the goodies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Isn't this a nursing blog? Where else should one be able to rant free of judgement?

I don't understand your point. Yes, this is a nursing blog. We discuss nursing issues. You are free to rant, but judgement free? Not so much. Just as the OP is free to rant, we are free to judge.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What you don't seem to realize is that unions are there to protect you. Yes seniority comes first when asking for vacations, but they are on a rotating basis. The person with the most seniority gets the pick of the vacation, but then drops to the bottom of the request list so that they won't always be first. Two week out is not far out in asking for vacation, so the manager is interpreting that part of the contract wrongly. It might be an honest mistake on the part of the management, or a deliberate attempt to create strife among the staff to create discontent with the union. Why don't you go to your union rep. They have to represent you whether or not you are a member of the union or not. She will go over the contract with you and can speak to the manager about her misrepresentation of the contract. Obviously your hospital unionized because the staff was sick and tired of poor working conditions, overworked staff and unsafe patient conditions. Instead of fighting about the union or complaining about it, why don't you find out more about it in order to make an informed decision. Unions are not there to protect lazy employees. If an employee gets written up multiple times for similar offenses with proof of no improvement, no union in the world will be able to protect that worker. The "Union" is not a mysterious organization, hell bent on taking over your organization, its the members of your union who make it stronger, and through that improve working conditions, have safe staffing levels so as to improve patient care, make sure all employees are treated fairly and yes improve their pay scale.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Maybe I'm one of the odd ones, but I do happen to think that vacations should be seniority based. Now, that doesn't mean that the senior nurses should be able to get all the holiday weeks, the prime weeks, etc. However, my feeling is that if a nurse has worked in the same place for 15, 20, 25, 30 years, there should be some perk for that. Many nurses stay in a place for 3 to 5 years, then go someplace else. Treating them the same as the nurses that have been there for decades doesn't seem right to me. There should be a "reward" for nurses that stay in the same place for decades. As someone who has been a nurse for 28 years, I would hope that I would be treated differently than a new grad or a nurse who was just hired. Now, like I said, I don't think senior nurses should be able to get EVERYTHING, but they did their time & paid their dues. I think in ANY job, a person must do their time & pay their dues to work up knowledge, experience & skills. When new nurses are treated like experienced, older nurses, I take issue with that. Say what you want, but this is my opinion.

Vacations should be seniority based. Straight days or favorable rotation schedules should also be seniority based. I'm not saying seniority should bump anyone off their shift, but as shifts become open, award them on basis of seniority. I say that as an old nurse, but I changed jobs not so long ago. I had 27 years of experience but was new to the facility. I understood I was unlikely to get my first or even second choice of vacation -- I was junior to nurses with even 1 year of experience who had spent that year at my facility. It's been that way in union hospitals and nonunion hospitals. I have no problem with that. What does irk me is special snowflakes who feel they ought to get exactly what they want from the start and to hell with everyone else.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion