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 few unions that still exist are becoming weaker and weaker. Unions used to be the backbone of the middle class and when they started disappearing so did the middle class. Unions do not always do what is best but they are very very important. They negotiate wages, benefits, time off, overtime and working conditions etc. Without a union you are defenseless against an often corporate machine that will use you up and spit you out with no recourse. A union is a GOOD thing!!

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Specializes in Hospice.
WOW! Please bring unions to the South! There is a large airplane manufacturer in my community whose Machinists Union tried to establish itself here and was literally run off by crazy right-to-work Southerners. The union representatives left a couple of days before the vote because they were being threatened at gunpoint.

OP needs to really step back and get some perspective.

Totally OT: Historically, it's been the owners pulling the guns first. Kinda puts bullying and second amendment protections in a whole new perspective. Just sayin':bag:

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

No union for me, and one minuscule to the point of being insulting raise in seven, yes seven years. Thanks to the Governor of this fine state, I doubt I'll ever see a union. Too bad, as I'd really like the chance of an actual meaningful raise someday.

As for your original vacation rant, well as I said I'm not union and our vacations are granted by seniority if more than one person puts in for the same time prior to April 1st. After that time it's first come, first served.

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Specializes in ICU.

Nurses should not have to fund their own retirement through a 403b which some employers will not even match anymore.

A defined benefit retirement plan will pay roughly $1000/ month for every ten years of service.

This benefit has been all but eliminated except in union facilities.

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Agh... another 'me me me' person in the health care system. Did you ever stop and think; what does being a part of a Union do for US (as a whole, not the country - just in case you wanted to take that to the extreme as well)?

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Yes. My primary dislike for unions is their protection of the incompetent and lazy employee. That will still exist when I'm senior.

That and some of the craziness you'll see in the railroad Union, automaker Union and mining unions. It's nuts what perks these guys get and what money is wasted.

My best friend works for a railroad company. You should hear the incredible perks those guys get. Now that's a powerful union.

Have you ever worked for a small union? Comparing all unions to the likes of big behemoth unions is not a fair comparison. Comparing nursing unions to railroad and automaker unions is not a fair comparison. Just the fact that you are talking about "union halls" tells me you are lumping all unions together. There is no "union hall" for the union that represents my facility. When they have had to lay off people there was a fair process, that yes went by seniority. Job bidding went by seniority. So the highest paying workers were not laid off first as you may have posted in a previous post.

I know, I know........ the senior people are all terrible and need to be let go but the union keeps incompetent workers.........

Someone I know recently left a non union hospital. In a short period of time( one year) the non union hospital without notice took away the "weekend work package", took away a planned raise, and omitted charge nurse positions........ bam, done.

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Specializes in ICU.
Agh... another 'me me me' person in the health care system. Did you ever stop and think; what does being a part of a Union do for US (as a whole, not the country - just in case you wanted to take that to the extreme as well)?

The Union protects, preserves and serves the middle class.

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Agh... another 'me me me' person in the health care system. Did you ever stop and think; what does being a part of a Union do for US (as a whole, not the country - just in case you wanted to take that to the extreme as well)?
Did you ever stop and think I did stop and think and I just don't care?

I mean chances are I do care, but not caring about others and looking out for my own is a possibility.

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I worked for a union hospital but didn't fully understand the ramifications until I actually was working there day by day. I left shortly afterward--no thanks. Some nurses read the contract more than their patients medical history. I can't wait 15 years to get seniority and the benefits mentioned here. Some areas only have union hospitals and I am really sorry about that. I also think we need to give nurses on this site some slack when they voice their opinion---criticizing each other on a site where we should feel a little safe only reinforces the mindset that nurses can't get along with each other. Some people love unions--some hate them. To each their own....

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I work in the south and I love my hospital---everyone works together and the hard workers get noticed

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but we all pay for those incredible perks----

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I get amused by a lot of the anti-Union rants I hear. In a previous career one of the essential functions of a union I belonged to was maintaining an extremely high level of professional competence. If a member was unable to perform at a high level the rank and file would no longer support them and they were denied continued membership. Competency was quantifiable and members took responsibility for each other.

I live and practice in California, it seems to me a little hypocritical for some to embrace ratios and relatively high pay yet bash unions. Ratios, working conditions, and comfortable pay scales are a direct result of union advocacy. It doesn't matter if your facility is unionized or not, the union shops, (including public sector jobs, yeah the prisons) are the sole reason benefits are so good. A high tide floats all boats, the competitive nature of skilled labor forces nonunion facilities to offer similar inducements as union shops to recruit and retain staff.

Much like herd immunity............................... oh but that's another thread!

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