Does any one work in a unionized facility

TriciaJ, RN · Aug 4, 2014

Benefits of unions:

1. You have a voice. Management cannot just treat you however they please.

2. Unions raise the wages for everyone. Even non-union shops have to compete so their employees benefit.

3. It's harder to be fired just because someone doesn't like you.

4. Wages and benefits are renegotiated on a regular basis.

Downside:

1. In the States, unions support political candidates and causes. Your mandatory dues may be supporting something or someone you don't approve of. Not sure if this happens in Canada; not that I remember.

2. The tail sometimes wags the dog. Sometimes the employer really does have financial problems or the economy is bad. This is not a good time to try to get better perks and wages, but some militants will try anyway. Gives unions a bad name.

3. Ineffectual managers will use the union as an excuse not to deal with a dead-wood employee. In reality, all a union can do is make sure the contract is followed re: discipline and termination. It is not in anyone's contract to retain their job if they're not doing it.

4. According to current labour laws, staffing is not negotiable. So if work conditions are poor because of poor staffing, this is a tough one for the union to help with.

Hope this helps. I can't tell you how thrilled I am that this issue is even being taught in nursing school. There is so much misinformation out there (hope everything I said is accurate and current). The more nurses understand labour relations, the more empowered we will become.

Best wishes to you.

allnurses Guide · Aug 4, 2014

Staffing is negotiable. Staffing is a working condition. Some of our contracts include numerical ratios for each unit. Others include a staffing committee.

I'm certain our work for safe staffing has saved lives.

All our contracts have an "Escape Clause" stating both the hospital and the union must follow the law. In the United States all hospitals that are reimbursed for care provided to Medicare and/or Medicaid patients must comply with the CMS Regulations for Hospitals.

This includes on page 196 of the linked document:

482.23(b) Standard: Staffing and Delivery of Care
The nursing service must have adequate numbers of licensed registered nurses, licensed practical (vocational) nurses, and other personnel to provide nursing care to all patients as needed.
There must be supervisory and staff personnel for each department or nursing unit to ensure, when needed, the immediate availability of a registered nurse for bedside care of any patient.
http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_a_hospitals.pdf

In my state our union nurses and thousands of nurses not represented by our union worked for 12 years to achieve the first safe staffing ratios written into the law: https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/I8612C410941F11E29091E6B951DDF6CE?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=%28sc.Default%29

Here is more information: http://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/159198

kalevra, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2014

1. Benefits of Unionization:

Research has shown unionized work places have better benefits and pay when compared to a non-union hospital in the same area. I also did my own comparison, I get paid $10 more than the non-union hospital. I also do not have to pay for my family medical coverage.

Another perk is union representation. Getting fired becomes a longer more laborious process, in other words, job security.

2. Limitations of Unionization

I pay almost $100 in union dues a month.

3. Issues Faced in the Health Care Setting

No issues here. The union has gotten me everything I wanted in my position. Even when the managers tried to pull me off orientation 2 months early, I informed my union rep and the managers backed down. So thank you very much union.

4. Strategies to Resolve Conflict and Enhance Employment Conditions:

Have a witness, never have a one one one conversation. If the other party feels intimidated, you may be written up for lateral violence. Talk like grown adults outside of work off hospital property.