Nurses at Scripps Encinitas Hospital in San Diego County California have filed a petition to Decertify the California Nurses Association.
The California Nurses Association have made several unsuccessful attempts to strike at the hospital and have failed to garner enough support among staff nurses.
A copy of the petition is available from the National Labor Relations Board or download the petition now at http://www.stopunions.com
Out of 100 union opponents participating in the demonstration .... "An organizer said about one in five members of the audience worked as nurses at Scripps Encinitas. Doctors and other hospital workers participated."
So ... only 20 protesters were actually nurses (out of 250 who work at the facility). The vast majority of protesters can't even vote in the election ... interesting. :icon_roll
"Anti-union nurses from other hospitals attended and some of them made speeches ...
A group calling itself Concerned Scripps Physicians secured the Bert Long Lutheran Field to stage the event."
It's unusual to see doctors campaigning on nurse union issues. It will be interesting to see what impact this has on the vote.
I could be wrong, but I personally think the opponents are making a mistake here. I'm not sure RN's will be receptive to doctors, non-nurses and outside RN's who don't even work there telling them how to vote. This strategy could backfire.
"Opponents of the union have launched a Web site, http://www.NotInOurHouse.org, which Internet records show is registered to a Chris Quattrino. A San Diego address is listed for the site, and so is the main telephone number for the Encinitas hospital.
(Union opponent) Fagnant said the designer of the Web page is an employee of Scripps' marketing department who created the Web designs on his own time."
At least we know that notinourhouse.org comes from the Scripps marketing department.
Still waiting for Sherwood to disclose the owner/operators of stopunions.com.
:redlight:
Here we go again......the usual "manipulation of the truth" strategy of the union who just may be afraid this is for real. First of all, the decertification vote would not be happening if there was not a large number of nurses who want the union OUT. Nurses are the only ones who can sign that petition and they did just that.
Second........It is a wonderful thing to see doctors come to the understanding that they should support and collaborate more closely with the nursing staff in order to create and promote increased professionalism and even better patient care. Doctors and Nurses care for our patients.........not union organizers who are paid to be divisive and manipulative.
Third.......Your organizer can't countl There were MANY nurses there and they have started a trend that will go across this state like wildfire when nurses everywhere wake up to the fact that they are being used in a CNA campaign to organize across this country using CA nurses dues to pay non-nurse organizers to raid other unions, create mistrust and confusion and to sensationalize stories in the press about healthcare. WE, the nurses along with our physician colleagues, will speak for ourselves.
Here we go again......the usual "manipulation of the truth" strategy of the union who just may be afraid this is for real. First of all, the decertification vote would not be happening if there was not a large number of nurses who want the union OUT. Nurses are the only ones who can sign that petition and they did just that.
Manipulation of the truth? Read the article. It's posted for everyone to read and draw their own conclusions. As previously discussed on this thread, the number of nurses who signed the petition was 30 percent, the same number of nurses who voted against the union in the original election. Nothing new there. What's interesting is that the opponents did not get 50 percent of the nurses to sign the petition, which would have enabled the opponents to throw out the union right away and not bother with an election at all.
The bottom line is: we really won't know how many nurses are against the union until the election is held.
Second........It is a wonderful thing to see doctors come to the understanding that they should support and collaborate more closely with the nursing staff in order to create and promote increased professionalism and even better patient care. Doctors and Nurses care for our patients.........not union organizers who are paid to be divisive and manipulative.
As was previously pointed out by union opponents on this thread, many of the union organizers are also nurses. Just FYI.
Third.......Your organizer can't countl There were MANY nurses there and they have started a trend that will go across this state like wildfire when nurses everywhere wake up to the fact that they are being used in a CNA campaign to organize across this country using CA nurses dues to pay non-nurse organizers to raid other unions, create mistrust and confusion and to sensationalize stories in the press about healthcare. WE, the nurses along with our physician colleagues, will speak for ourselves.
My organizer? Read the article. The paper is quoting "an" organizer which obviously refers to an organizer of the event which the newspaper was covering. The newspaper says 1 out of 5 attendees or 20 percent were actually nurses.
If the Scripps nurses don't want CNA in their facility, then I think they have every right to vote CNA out. It will be really interesting to see if, in fact, the opponents have the votes they claim to have. But with only 20 out of 100 attendees being nurses, I don't think that's an indication that the opponents have this in the bag ... at least at this point.
I should have left out that one phrase "your organizer" I assumed it was the union rep who was quoted as being interviewed but who may or may not have been there at the actual event. I'm sure he was somewhere nearby watching so he could report back. Maybe it was him who made the comment. Maybe it wasn't. I stand by the rest of what I said.
The feedback I have heard from the RN organizers of this event was totally positive and they were very pleased by the RN support so I would tend to believe them. Also, I can assure you and everyone reading this message that the CNA is a master at manipulating the truth. Most nurses are not as gullible as they may think.
It's interesting how the CNA website appears to be so professional but their behind the scenes actions don't match..............Also, FYI, smearing a hospital publicly and the usual corporate campaigning the CNA does usually only angers the very people they are trying to attract. Professional nurses don't want to be represented by a union that actively tears down the very place where they work.
Not prudent..........wouldn't do it.....won't work.
We organized at my hospital because the very hospital where i worked laid off registered nurses, replaced them with unlicensed personnel, not even nursing assistants. They laid off more than half of the pharmacists, then blamed nurses when medicatioins were given late. No matter that meds were not delivered on time.
They told us, "Change is good. If you can't hack it you can leave."
They told us it was too expensive to put a sharps container in each patient room.
Now thanks to the patient care committee in our CNA contract we get an answer to our recommendations. We get action on behalf of our patients.
I am glad we didn't just suck it up as the DON suggested. I love my job now because we nurses with the help of the CNA negotiated our contract that is legally binding. We are a family. We are friends. And for many years now we are CNA.
Proud to support the organization whose first political action was the licensure of registered nurses in California (1905). We protested the Governors attempt to eliminate the Board of Registered Nursing this year.
We organized at my hospital because the very hospital where i worked laid off registered nurses, replaced them with unlicensed personnel, not even nursing assistants. They laid off more than half of the pharmacists, then blamed nurses when medicatioins were given late. No matter that meds were not delivered on time.
They told us, "Change is good. If you can't hack it you can leave."
They told us it was too expensive to put a sharps container in each patient room.
Now thanks to the patient care committee in our CNA contract we get an answer to our recommendations. We get action on behalf of our patients.
I am glad we didn't just suck it up as the DON suggested. I love my job now because we nurses with the help of the CNA negotiated our contract that is legally binding. We are a family. We are friends. And for many years now we are CNA.
Proud to support the organization whose first political action was the licensure of registered nurses in California (1905). We protested the Governors attempt to eliminate the Board of Registered Nursing this year.
We are proud to be CNA!
And isn't it great that you live in America were we all have right and the power to choose. I am glad to hear you are happier with the changes you have been able to make.
We have been able to do the same at our hospital.......without a union.
We have many committees that nurses belong to where they have input and make a difference..and we don't even have to pay dues to do that.
I think that all nurses should speak up against unrealistic expectations, mandates and changes. Many nurses across the state thought the Governor was being a bit hasty when he made the decision regarding the BON and he quite wisely heard and acted upon the reaction he got FROM ALL NURSES.............not just the CNA.
As far as the CNA in 1905 goes..we all know that the CNA of today is not the "Association" that it was back then. It is now a LABOR UNION and that's that.......plain and simple.
When they start acting in a professional manner in front of and behind the scenes, maybe they will have some credibility with the rest of us............who are pretty fed up with their public displays of rudeness and unprofessional behavior.
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
s far as the cna in 1905 goes..we all know that the cna of today is not the "association" that it was back then. it is now a labor union and that's that.......plain and simple.
when they start acting in a professional manner in front of and behind the scenes, maybe they will have some credibility with the rest of us............who are pretty fed up with their public displays of rudeness and unprofessional behavior.
ana/california was established due to many professionals having similar concerns: they wanted an organization that would have a professional manor and political clout without the devisive tatics seen diplayed by some labor unions.
it is with equal rancor that you see on the bb on debate over this topic.
one association that seems to have successfully blended both viewpoints is the nysna--successful as both a nursing association and nursing union.
my best lake on the situation: when nurses are involved in decision making, speak up collectively as a group, taken seriously by management/state legislators/politicians/community they can move mountains for the improvement of both themselves and community. otherwise, you get handed to you what the powers to be think is best.
I should have left out that one phrase "your organizer" I assumed it was the union rep who was quoted as being interviewed but who may or may not have been there at the actual event. I'm sure he was somewhere nearby watching so he could report back. Maybe it was him who made the comment. Maybe it wasn't. I stand by the rest of what I said.
I doubt it was the union rep. As the paper stated, they didn't even know if he had attended. "It is unclear if Glenn, the union representative, attended the demonstration." So why would they quote him on who attended and who did not if they weren't sure if the union rep was even there? The article also makes it clear they interviewed him before, not during or after the demonstration.
Also, I can assure you and everyone reading this message that the CNA is a master at manipulating the truth. Most nurses are not as gullible as they may think.
It's interesting how the CNA website appears to be so professional but their behind the scenes actions don't match..............Also, FYI, smearing a hospital publicly and the usual corporate campaigning the CNA does usually only angers the very people they are trying to attract. Professional nurses don't want to be represented by a union that actively tears down the very place where they work.
Let me explain something might help with the discussion here. I don't think CNA members are saints. Not by a long shot. Just because I support CNA doesn't mean I'm blind. I think every organization is flawed, including unions. Of course they have their agenda and CNA does tend to be more radical than, perhaps, they should be.
But I think it's naive if you believe that hospitals don't manipulate the truth. Everything you've said can be said of both sides. Hospitals have their agenda also, and it's to make as much money as possible while compensating their workers as little as possible. This is typical for any business, healthcare or otherwise. The problem with healthcare, of course, is that lives are at stake.
I used to support management and tow the company line. It got me nowhere. I ended working tons of uncompensated overtime and, in the end, I was rewarded with a layoff. That's when I realized that no matter what I did for the company, they really didn't care. All of my efforts on their behalf didn't matter one bit. Ironically, the company ended up doing the same thing to their managers and laid them off too. This is what really changed my mind about unions.
I've also belonged to unions (not CNA) that accomplished very little for their members and, in some cases, actually screwed their members. But I'm not seeing that with CNA. The stuff you guys complain about with CNA is actually nothing compared to what I've seen other unions do. Maybe there are some skeleton's in CNA's closet but, the opponents have to yet dig up any real scandals, at least at this point.
The thing is ... CNA may be radical ... but they do deliver. Sherwood's own website confirms this since, by his own accounting, CNA got nurses in his facility a better pay raise than they otherwise would have. This whole thing about nurses doing better on their own just isn't happening, even according to an anti-union website. And, we are the envy of nurses around the country with the ratio law which nobody else has been able to accomplish.
What does "professional" really mean? To the company it means staying quiet and accepting high patient loads which jeopardizes patient safety and care. What's so "professional" about that? If CNA is viewed as "unprofessional" for speaking out and fighting against this I really don't care because, at least the patients don't suffer which, in the end, is the most important and, ultimately, the most professional thing to do.
\We have been able to do the same at our hospital.......without a union.
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This is why I say unions are only a response to bad management. Nurses don't vote in a union when they feel they are being heard by management and treated fairly. Unfortunately a lot of us work in facilities where this was the case.
We have been able to do the same at our hospital....... without a union.
We have many committees that nurses belong to where they have input and make a difference..and we don't even have to pay dues to do that.
So I'm sure I totally understand what you are saying...You and your colleagues have been able to keep admin from laying off nurses and replacing them with unlicensed personnel as well as address/fix some of the other issues Spacenurse mentioned? That's quite remarkable. Bravo. And while I'm no history buff, I'd venture to guess your accomplishments are quite historical.
Now assuming there was no threat of a walkout and that the admin is the average hospital admin (who live in a concrete world where the money is the bottom line) how were you able to convince management/admin that the almighty dollar isn't always the bottom line? I mean let's be honest...some people could care less what facts and figures you show them. They see one thing and one thing only. Now if my two assumptions were incorrect, please tell me so.
First of all it's pretty cool that y'all united knowing that if the admin didn't listen to reason you'd either have to: 1...put up with the massive terminations/changes; 2...quit and find a better place of employment; or 3... resort to some sort of massive demonstration which could likely result in you being terminated on the spot. That takes courage; even more so that y'all were able to get the admin to change their minds about what they thought would be the most financially sound actions without having to face the 3 options previously mentioned.
It sounds like there was a strategy y'all used to accomplish such a great feat. And I'll be the first to say I'd love to hear how it happened, so please, please tell me how you managed this. I mean I've never heard of a group of nonunion hospital nurses organizing to stop the powers that be from making some major staffing cuts. I'll say it again. Bravo. :bow:
I think that all nurses should speak up against unrealistic expectations, mandates and changes.
No doubt about it. Two thoughts come to mind. Often times admin who make these expectations/changes aren't very rational people, because as I mentioned before they only see the $$$. Additionally, when a nurse or group of nurses decides to take a stand against the irrational thoughts of the powers that be, they don't have a leg to stand on because there won't be 100% unity. There will always be people out there who don't want to rock the boat out of fear of retaliation. And in a way I can't blame them because some people (I'm referring to the admin here) are soooo stubborn/irrational that even if there was a 100% unification of the staff, they (the admin) would just as soon fire the lot of them and get some yessir/yesmam employees as bat an eye. Why would you want to take a stand knowing that regardless of how rational, professional, thought provoking you are presenting yourself and your concerns, your job security is as stable as the rapid cycling manic in bed 1? And then you have to explain to your future employers why you were terminated from your previous job. Sadly it's easier to shut up, be the martyr, then drive yourself into the grave or explain to your future employer that you quit your previous job for whatever bs explanation you can come up with.
This is why I say unions are only a response to bad management. Nurses don't vote in a union when they feel they are being heard by management and treated fairly. Unfortunately a lot of us work in facilities where this was the case.
While I believe what you say is tragically 100% the truth, I really really really hope music's response to me proves that even horrible management which make bad decisions (like replacing perfectly capable licensed staff with unlicensed staff) can be redirected in their thinking without the legal backbone of a union.
While I believe what you say is tragically 100% the truth, I really really really hope music's response to me proves that even horrible management which make bad decisions (like replacing perfectly capable licensed staff with unlicensed staff) can be redirected in their thinking without the legal backbone of a union.
That's assuming that music's hospital management WAS horrible to begin with. They may not have been. Some places have administrators who aren't shortsighted and a union is never necessary (unless the administration changes, which is hardly unheard of).
The unions will try to convince us that we are weak without them. They know that as demand increases so do wages and in turn their chance at our dues. That is the only reason they want us.
If unions are looking for dues, so what? At least they deliver much better wages for those dues. Stock brokers and real estate agents are looking for fees too. But the rate of return on union dues is much better than if you invested that money in real estate, the stock market, you name it ... where 20-40 percent annually is considered phenomenal.
With union dues the rate of return is anywhere from 600 to 800 percent annually. To wit:
FACT: In 2003, union RN's made, on average, $7,000 more a year than non-union RN's. Even if union dues run as high as $1,000 a year (which they don't in many cases), union RN's net an average of $6,000 a year more than non-union RN's.
FACT: In 2004, union workers nationwide, across the board in all industries made $9,000 a year more, on average, than non-union workers. Again, even if you assume that dues run as high as $1,000 a year, that's an $8,000 a year benefit over non-union workers.
These figures don't include better retirement, health insurance, overtime and other benefits that unions also negotiate on behalf of their members ... which increases the rate of return on union dues even more.
As this data shows, unions deliver much more for their members than what they pay in dues.
And while I'm no history buff, I'd venture to guess your accomplishments are quite historical.
music
67 Posts
Here we go again......the usual "manipulation of the truth" strategy of the union who just may be afraid this is for real. First of all, the decertification vote would not be happening if there was not a large number of nurses who want the union OUT. Nurses are the only ones who can sign that petition and they did just that.
Second........It is a wonderful thing to see doctors come to the understanding that they should support and collaborate more closely with the nursing staff in order to create and promote increased professionalism and even better patient care. Doctors and Nurses care for our patients.........not union organizers who are paid to be divisive and manipulative.
Third.......Your organizer can't countl There were MANY nurses there and they have started a trend that will go across this state like wildfire when nurses everywhere wake up to the fact that they are being used in a CNA campaign to organize across this country using CA nurses dues to pay non-nurse organizers to raid other unions, create mistrust and confusion and to sensationalize stories in the press about healthcare. WE, the nurses along with our physician colleagues, will speak for ourselves.