Can I get out?

Nurses Union

Published

  1. Do you agree with your unions politics?

    • 10
      Yes
    • 7
      No

17 members have participated

I was wondering if anyone has attempted to excise themselves from the CNA union? Is it possible? If so, how do I go about it?

Specializes in CVICU/SICU.

Yes, please expand on that profound thought. There are more than a few RNs that are unhappy with the politics of their unions. Some of us are politically conservative. The union I am forced to belong to goes against everything I believe in. As far as the Beck objector status, I've explored that. Please don't try to tell me that the SEIU only spends 5% of my 75.00/month dues on political activities. There are quite a few RNs in my facility that feel the same way. We would dearly love to show the SEIU the door, but the current rules of engagement make that a bit difficult.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
Yes, please expand on that profound thought. There are more than a few RNs that are unhappy with the politics of their unions. Some of us are politically conservative. The union I am forced to belong to goes against everything I believe in. As far as the Beck objector status, I've explored that. Please don't try to tell me that the SEIU only spends 5% of my 75.00/month dues on political activities. There are quite a few RNs in my facility that feel the same way. We would dearly love to show the SEIU the door, but the current rules of engagement make that a bit difficult.

No locks on the exit door buddy. I've worked in non-union facilities. It sucked.

Oh and please leave a check for all the extra pay and benefits you have received as a union member on your way out. Thanks!

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Specializes in OR Nursing.

I guess my basic point is that I wish the union would focus on it's purpose. Not on political objectives that don't benefit the employee. Just bargain, and keep your nose where it belongs.

I don't think you'd have a hard time selling the unions to almost everyone if they just stuck to that.

The extra pay and benefits argument is complex. Some would make more and others would make less. The benefit for me would be the fact that my managers want to give me a raise to keep me there based on my performance. However, they are unable to do so because my raises are scheduled and set, along with all the other employees in the union regardless of whether or not they are good employees. I see it every day, people who just take up space and waste company time who make $10-$15/hr more than I do. It doesn't make sense to pay someone more just because they've wasted space longer than anyone else.

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Specializes in OR Nursing.

I'm sorry you're a member of that Union. I thought mine was a joke. Anyway, here's a link that might be helpful. Good luck. Can I be required to be a union member or pay dues to a union? | National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I've had bad experiences only at union jobs. The salary was high, but my coworkers who had been there a while were lazy and I felt inhibiting to the patients' care. We had no ancillary staff, there was such a rift between management and staff that you felt you couldn't even talk to your manager. Our union gave us no support on issues that did come up in the work place. Especially when a charge nurse began to play favorites and target certain nurses making their shifts pretty miserable. The very things they were supposed to support us on, they neglected us.

Work issues were common and most of us hated working at this facility.

I left, went to a couple non-union hospitals. The majority of the time my work place was much more amiable. Lazy people didn't stay, they got fired. There were a few issues though of very good nurses who had put in their time there getting let go because someone had it out for them. We have techs and secretaries and a lift team, all fantastic things that I wish we had had at my union job. We had intensivists to consult, the patient care was spot on.

My experience of course is going to be different from others' experience though.

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Specializes in Critical-care RN.

.......... I think your nose is growing.....:barf01:

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Specializes in OR Nursing.
.......... I think your nose is growing.....:barf01:

Another well though out, highly intelligent response.

By the way "laborer", you're making our case.:banghead:

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Specializes in OR Nursing.
So, because the poll didn't yield the results you wanted, that must mean the participants are uninformed? My guess is they're quite informed, particularly if you're talking about the CNA.

It's best not to ask a question if you're not prepared to get an answer you don't want to hear.

Thanks for the profound and well thought out response. You are obviously waaaay too smart for me. The most likely reason for the results is that I posted it in a forum most frequented by union sympathizers like you. The reason I was initially surprised was because the #'s didn't match my experience. Keep suckin' down that koolaid.

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Specializes in OR Nursing.
BTW, since you have such objections to your union, I'm sure you forego the wage and benefit increases your union negotiates for you. After all, that would be the moral thing to do since you find your union so odious.

I responded to this line of thinking in another post. Good try though.

The extra pay and benefits argument is complex. Some would make more and others would make less. The benefit for me would be the fact that my managers want to give me a raise to keep me there based on my performance. However, they are unable to do so because my raises are scheduled and set, along with all the other employees in the union regardless of whether or not they are good employees. I see it every day, people who just take up space and waste company time who make $10-$15/hr more than I do. It doesn't make sense to pay someone more just because they've wasted space longer than anyone else.

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Specializes in OR Nursing.

I actually just want them to function within their intended purpose. They delve into far too many areas that should have nothing to do with workers rights.

I think you're kidding yourself if you think people actually read the propaganda the CNA sends them or pays attention to it.

Unions have a lot of members by the short ones. Especially those not highly educated who are relatively over payed. They may not agree politically, but can't afford to step out of line.

Unions are about control. They disincentivize the masses. They've got you hook, line and sinker.

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Specializes in CVICU/SICU.
No locks on the exit door buddy. I've worked in non-union facilities. It sucked.

Oh and please leave a check for all the extra pay and benefits you have received as a union member on your way out. Thanks![/quote

First of all, not your "buddy". Secondly, as far as pay and benefits, the non-union facilities here make as much if not more than us. Without paying the 75.00/month. As far as the door goes, I was here before the union was. I didn't vote them in. In fact, they were certified by a narrow margin, and most of the current staff want them de-certified. Contract is up in November of this year, hopefully we can give them the boot. The union exists only to enrich the union and it's hierarchy.

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Specializes in CVICU/SICU.

The 2012 elections will likely break the backs of most of the unions anyway :D

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