Do we need a union? Management is taking advantage of us.

You're story sounds eerily similar to the things I'm hearing in my neck of the woods.

Hospitals are cutting back on practically EVERYTHING, which stretches the nurses to the limit, and sadly there have been many pay cuts for nurses in my area (the hospital I'm referring to has also scaled most nurses to part time so they don't have to give them benefits either)

I'm not a huge fan of unions, but obviously in some cases it really is necessary!

Yeah. I did some research. I was very disappointed to find that our hospital system has spent millions of dollars on consultants to push the anti-union agenda. That money could have been used to take better care of nurses and patients. I am just wondering if anyone knows what, if there is anything we should do at this point. No one wants to go to work anymore because it is so stressful.

My guess would be that the hospital system is spending big bucks to keep the unions out while they have cut back on everything EXCEPT the salaries of the executive suite where those decisions are made. Google the compensation package for the CEO of the health system you work for, it will be eye opening.

If a union came to my facility, I would vote yes.

It is against Federal law to actively prevent workers from organizing. They can only impose existing policies.. cannot create any new ones specifically designed to combat pro-union activity. For instance: They cannot prohibit passing out union leaflets unless they impose the same restrictions on all other types of non-sanctioned materials like Avon catalogues, school sales, etc.

Recently, I have heard several instances of public figures referring to nurses as "the Auto Workers of the 21 Century" - warning of significant labor unrest & collective actions that may be on the horizon. There's one big difference -- they can't 'offshore' our work to another country. It's certainly something to think about.

I wonder what is the downside of having nurse union? Here in Canada all nurses are unionized, so It was quite a surprise for me that it is not the case in the States.

I wonder what is the downside of having nurse union? Here in Canada all nurses are unionized, so It was quite a surprise for me that it is not the case in the States.

In my view there is no downside for the individual nursing professional. There is, however, the perception that unionized nurses are bad for the "free market" and for profit health care providers who seek to create wealth by limiting care. Further, there is a very "pro-business" attitude amongst many of our conservative legislators who believe that business must be protected/insulated from the needs/wants/rights of the people who work for them.

Oops, sorry, yeah agencies and clinics are not unfortunately. But large hospitals and nursing homes are.

Yes.

It made be a difficult road but Unions are excellent and protecting workers. They are not perfect but made things like job stability, wages, work hours and work schedules much more fair.

Beware that employers do not like unions and will do anything to prevent them from coming in.