Declined Union Enrollment

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Hello Everyone!

I am currently working for a union hospital and have declined to be a part of the union. I know the pros and cons to being part of a union and I think in different circumstances I would have joined, however I have certain circumstances that have swayed me not to. It's a long story but here it is in a nut shell.

I currently work in the state which I have grown up in. Now as my grandparents are getting older they will be needing more assistance. So I will be moving within the next couple years or sooner to their state to try and help the rest of my family take care of them. The thing of it is the hospital in their area is very large and they own most of the surrounding smaller hospitals, nursing homes, doctors offices, home health ect, in the area. They make up a decent part of the nursing job market within their area. They are anti-union. I have been warned by my family who live down there and who work/have worked within the facility to be sure and not join a union if I ever wish to get a job down there because it will effect my hireability.

When I move down there I will need to have a job waiting for me and if I am black balled by this facility because I was a part of a union I will have narrowed my job market dramatically. Some of my family who live here think I am making a mistake in not joining the union. My question is, do the pros of being a part of a union at my current position really out weigh the probability of not being able to get a job when I move?

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I don't see how they would know unless you told them. I also don't see how being part of a union at a union facility would prevent a job where no union exists. Personally I think gaining the benefits that the unionized staff earn without paying the dues they have to is crap, but that's just my opinion.

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Thank you for your response xoemmylouox. From what I'm told during the interview process they will ask if you have been affiliated with any unions in the past and to what degree was my involvement. As far as the union dues go the union gets their money either way. When you refuse to join the union they take what would have been your dues from each pay check and place it within a charity fund that is maintained by the union. For every dollar that a non-union nurse places into that charity account means that it is one less dollar that they will have to pay in order to maintain that account. So either way they are getting their dues. Whether it directly or indirectly.

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If you have it from a credible source that you will be asked that question during the hiring process, then you have a valid reason for your decision.

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And why is it anyone's business, what groups you choose to affiliate with?

JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN,(ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW

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And why is it anyone's business, what groups you choose to affiliate with?

JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN,(ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW

I agree with this, but would not want to take any chances.

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I a, not a union member, nor have I ever been. Furthermore in all the facilities that I have worked at here down south, I have never been asked if I have ever been in a union nor was it on an application.

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Specializes in Critical Care,Recovery, ED.

Tell them the truth, I worked at a Union Hospital and was not a member, therefor had no involvement..

Curious if it is even legal to discriminate employment because of past union involvement. Any body know?

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Tell them the truth, I worked at a Union Hospital and was not a member, therefor had no involvement..

Curious if it is even legal to discriminate employment because of past union involvement. Any body know?

I'm sure it is illegal, but that doesn't mean they would admit that is why they picked someone else over hiring OP. It's like pregnant women. Most employers won't hire a pregnant women because they know what will be coming soon. Sure it's illegal, but they still do it.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Tell them the truth, I worked at a Union Hospital and was not a member, therefor had no involvement..

Curious if it is even legal to discriminate employment because of past union involvement. Any body know?

As being in a union is not a protected class, I can't see how it would be considered discrimination to not hire someone because of their union membership.

I have never been asked, either on application forms or interviews, if I have ever been in a union.

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I'm not sure what the source for this was, however per Business Management Daily it is illegal.

You can't ask applicants whether they've ever been members of a union. You can, however, state on your application or during the hiring process that your organization has a policy against unions.
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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I stand corrected:

Discriminating against employees because of their union activities or sympathies (Section 8(a)(3)) | NLRB

However, I wouldn't call it discrimination so much as I would call it unfair labor practices.

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