Decertifying a union

[LostButMakinGoodTime]

Could someone please shed some light on how staff would go about ridding themselves of a union that does nothing but suck funds from their paychecks? We are represented by the SEIU Local 1199P. These folks have "negotiated" three horrible contracts, and are charging the staff RNs between 55.00-72.00 dollars per month for union dues. The SEIU local also refuses to account for where they are spending the dues collected at the facility. They collect an average of 80K per month in dues, but the only employees of the local are two "organizers", and nobody seems to know what, if anything, they do for us. To those of us paying the bills, the SEIU seems to be nothing more than a political fundraising outfit that offers occasional shoddy "representation" to it's "members. Our staff is not anti-union, we'd just like to replace the SEIU with a professional RN union that would be interested in advancing the welfare of the staff rather than generating funds for the union itself.

[Chico David, BSN, RN]

like most things these days, the answers are easily available online.

The website of the National Labor Relations Board has it all.

http://www.nlrb.gov/publications/Procedures_Guide.htm

Basically it's the mirror image of a representation election - you have to file a petition with the signatures of 30% of the represented nurses - the wording is available at the website.

You can file a simple de-cert alone, which would leave you without a union or can file a de-cert and a representation petition at the same time. The vote is simple majority.

I generally hate to hear about de-certs, as a strong union supporter, but I also believe that every group of workers should be represented by the union of their choice and not locked into one that does not work for them.

[LostButMakinGoodTime]

Thank you for the link.

[Leyla~]

I would also check out the National Right to Work Labor Defense Fund at : Right to Work States | National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation

They have a lot of information regarding becoming a non-union member to reduce dues. Your rights in requesting an accounting of where dues are spent, as well as providing info on decertification. More on decertification here: Decertification Election | National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation

[suanna]

I you have any further difficulties look into what other organizations you may want to have serve as your collective barg. agent. The ANA or state nurses association usualy have a department that provides this service. I know for one- the California Nurses Association is branching out nationwide. Call around to other nurses you know and see who is thier representing agency. Please consider your options before you abolish the union totally. The union was formed at your hospital for a reason. Before I'd give up union representation and protection I would make sure that reason is no longer valid. If your car breaks down you don't give up driving and walk for the rest of your life- you fix what's broken or get another car.

[LostButMakinGoodTime]

We are not giving up representation and protection. We have very little to none from the SEIU. The SEIU is nothing but a political fundraising arm. The staff needs representation from a professional NURSING union, one that is concerned with advancing the interests of nurses, not simply concerned with enlarging itself and gaining political influence. I plan on leaving healthcare, but my wife and several close relatives and friends will remain. I'm hoping they can secure better representation for their future.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

I would read the constitution of your local. There may well be a way to challenge and call for new elections within the local.

IMO when a local is not functioning well that is when members need to step in and set things right. Union locals are small d democracies. If you want to fix things that means that you need to 1. Attend meetings. and 2. Demand accountability.

Best wishes

[LostButMakinGoodTime]

We don't have meetings. We have asked the SEIU to give us an accounting of what they spend our dues money on, as they collect 80K per month, and pay no salaries to our officers. The membership would really like to know WHERE our money is going, and what it is used for. The SEIU refuses to do this. The local president told us that the union doesn't hold meetings because they were poorly attended.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

Start having them. Read your local constitution. More than likely it requires at least quarterly if not monthly meetings. If they fail to follow through contact the International and ask them to intervene

[LostButMakinGoodTime]

Oddly enough, not many copies of the constitution floating around. The local "organizers" have been asked for one, they are "working" on it.