florida nusing unions

nena721 · Apr 29, 2008

I was wondering the same thing. I also posted a thread to find out if any nursing unions exist. I would guess not due to the disappointing salary nurses have in Florida.

lndrn2001 · Apr 29, 2008

i know there is at least 1 that has 6 hca hospitals it it SEIU.i was in 1 in ks. it was an umbrella of the aft. our hospital is ripe.I would like to see some contracts they have gotten.

kleinbbc · Apr 30, 2008

Yes I work for a HCA hospital.. The union has done nothing but bad things for us.

For example raises 2% max which no one can max out the 2%,Non union 4%. Also we have to be clocked out for over a hour before getting overtime non union get over time after shift ends. And also we get no 15min breaks due to the union did not write it in. Are union rep does nothing for us just wants the title union rep. I hope we soon get to vote them out..

lndrn2001 · Apr 30, 2008

which union is it?

lndrn2001 · Apr 30, 2008

I am curious,why did you let that contract pass?

ShannonSRN · Apr 30, 2008

I worked at a hospital in which there was a union here in Brevard County. Unfortunately, Florida is right to work state, so unions don't really do any good.

When I started at the hospital the union approached us at orientation to "join" the union. We basically gave money to some unknown benefactor, and had 'representatives' that would bring nursing issues to the board of the hospital. They did do contracts for salaries, etc., but really it was all up to the board due to state laws. I really thought that the only benefit of the union was that our concerns were heard (not really ever paid much attention to however).

I now work for a Magnet hospital in the same county. Magnet seems to work much better than any union. Nurses voices are heard, nurses hold high administrative positions, staffing and pay are always fair, recognition for career advancement, etc.

Unions are basically useless in hospitals here in the great state of Florida.

elkpark · Apr 30, 2008

Yes I work for a HCA hospital.. The union has done nothing but bad things for us.
For example raises 2% max which no one can max out the 2%,Non union 4%. Also we have to be clocked out for over a hour before getting overtime non union get over time after shift ends. And also we get no 15min breaks due to the union did not write it in. Are union rep does nothing for us just wants the title union rep. I hope we soon get to vote them out..

The better circumstances for the non-union members are actions the hospital administration is taking to try to get rid of the union. Rest assured, as soon as (if) the union is gone, everyone will be treated equally badly! I've heard nothing but bad things about HCA for all the decades I've been in healthcare.

valkyria, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2008

jackson memorial hospital and the rest of the jackson health system, which includes jackson north, (the old parkway), jackson south, (the old deering), 2 long term care facilities, the correctional facilities health care services, womens health, holtz children's hospital and i am probably forgetting someone, 3800+ nurses alone, is a union shop. yes, florida is a right to work state but that does not mean that unions are useless. that means that if you work for the jackson health system, you do not have to belong to the union to benefit from their negotiations.:yeah:jackson employees have fought for many things through the union, a promised 40 hour week pay each week, a float pool to draw from when staffing is short, if you are in the float pool and you are a psych nurse then they will not send you to a pedi floor, and the list goes on. nurses are strongly represented on the union board and there is also one physician. university of miami hospital, formerly cedars, was a union shop but the contracts were renegotiated and the staff who remained are not union if they work for um. a complaint i heard about unions is that they are only good to go with you if you are being reprimanded and if you are being reprimanded while you are on probation, you are all alone anyway. that is very short sighted. yes they will accompany you in negotiations if you are facing any corrective or punitive action but the point is not the conditions, the point is to have a voice and be heard, right?:chuckle

451F · Jun 16, 2008

Unions served a purpose once, long ago. Now however, unless you like paying to have lawyers and politicians run (ruin?) your business..... I've never had a good experience with a union in any industry so far (theater, govt., tech., and working on health care).

Please keep them out of Fla.

Sincerely,

451'F

valkyria, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2008

jackson health systems is involved with the seiu local 1991. and pay is but one of the concerns of a union in representation of its employees. working conditions, patient ratios, staffing,right specialty trained nurse for the right acuity of patient, paid vacations and holidays, adequate sick leave and family leave, fair representation during "corrective actions", and the list goes on. yes, florida is not the example for the highest pay for nurses based on the cost of living in the corresponding communities but we are not the example for teachers either. we do not pay teachers what they are worth or make it worth their while to go into or stay in the field even if you do have a calling for it.lottery was not the answer either because for each dollar the lottery put in, one dollar that was alloted to the budget for education could then be used for something else! but this is a nursing web site not for teachers. physicians too have the opportunity to join a union chapter as well, as do other professionals.:heartbeat

Yiddle22 · Jul 9, 2008

I worked for Bayonet Point Hospital in Pasco county and the nurses alone were represented by the union. I found that all it did was cause us more problems than anything. There was severe retaliation, firing of almost all of the nurses that started the union wave. They pitted non-union workers and union workers against each other at EVERY turn. I only worked there when the first contract started and I saw no difference in pay, ratios, or anything positive for that matter! HCA is a rotten place to work BUT in that area I would have to say that it is a less of the evils. I now work at Florida Hospital and have moved to the Orlando area. I know now what it is like to be appreciated and for my hard work to be rewarded. PLUS the pay is way better! All that said I would have to say that I think unions are BAD! LOL