Nursing Unions-what is the good,bad, ugly?

Nurses General Nursing

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anyone in a nursing union w/in your facility? what is the good, bad, ugly?

Why do people always bring up this argument?

Let's see. I didn't vote for George Bush. Therefore, I shouldn't be required to pay taxes because he won the election and paying taxes to his government violates my freedom of choice.

That doesn't fly.

If you don't like the federal law where unions are elected by a majority vote to represent workers in facilities, then tell the Republican Congress to change it.

:clown:

Not even close to the same thing. If I am working for a hospital that 51% of the employees vote for a union, then in some states, I must join the union or seek another place to work. What this has to do with taxes I am not sure, but did you give back your tax cuts?- Don't asnswer that. Any how, if I don't want to belong to a union, then I should not be forced to- period.

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The problem with "performanced based" promotions is that those in charge end up promoting those they like. It ends up being who you know not how you do. While it is true that some unqualified employees get promoted under union systems, it is fairer than putting your future in the hands of someone that doesn't like you.

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Specializes in home health.

> So, by the time I get a pay raise based on "performance," I'll be lucky if >catch up to the union money I'd lose by working for the non-union shop in >the first place ... which, quite frankly, isn't likely to happen.

How much of that pay difference is used up in union dues?

Serious question--not "fanning flames"

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The problem with "performanced based" promotions is that those in charge end up promoting those they like. It ends up being who you know not how you do. While it is true that some unqualified employees get promoted under union systems, it is fairer than putting your future in the hands of someone that doesn't like you.

I agree. Hence my current situation as a nurse in Texas.

But having worked both systems, I still say pick your poison.

I think it's a matter of perspective.

If I were the manager's little pet who could do no wrong, then I could easily claim that "performance" raises/promotions are the more fair way to go, because my "performance" would always be viewed as very favorable regardless of how bad I treat my co-workers, push my work off onto others, not pulling my share of the load, barely scraping by.

On the other hand, if I had been an RN in the same union hospital for 100 years, I could easily say that the union system was more fair because I could take comfort knowing that any newcomers were not going to pass me up on the payscale or promotions. I could spend the rest of my working life barely scraping by, doing the bare minimum every day or even less, and still be rewarded and protected the same as someone who gives 110% at work.

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It is pick your poison. Performance, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder. The only fair system is one that treats everyone the same.

How much of that pay difference is used up in union dues?

In my case, union dues of $30/month have equaled $35k in raises in 5 years!

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Not even close to the same thing. If I am working for a hospital that 51% of the employees vote for a union, then in some states, I must join the union or seek another place to work. What this has to do with taxes I am not sure, but did you give back your tax cuts?- Don't asnswer that. Any how, if I don't want to belong to a union, then I should not be forced to- period.

You are incorrect. If you work at a facility that is a closed shop, you do not have to join the union, to work there. As another poster said, you must only pay the union dues, no one forces you to join. I have worked in closed shops, as has my brother, and neither of us were ever forced to join the union, just to keep our jobs. I've also worked in 'right to work' states. A state where an employer can terminate you without giving a cause, just or unjust. To be honest, I would rather work under a strong union, then work at will for an employer who could fire me at anytime without cause.

As for the tax cuts. I didn't benefit from any of them. Neither did my daughter or SIL, nor many nurses I know, so there was nothing to give back.

Grannynurse:rolleyes:

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To be honest, I would rather work under a strong union, then work at will for an employer who could fire me at anytime without cause.

Without a doubt, working with barely adequate performers who will always make more and move up before me due to union rules and pure seniority has a lot less potential to cause me harm than at-will employers who feel like making a statement or an example out of me and just feel like flexing muscle on a given day.

I can't argue with that.

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Without a doubt, working with barely adequate performers who will always make more and move up before me due to union rules and pure seniority has a lot less potential to cause me harm than at-will employers who feel like making a statement or an example out of me and just feel like flexing muscle on a given day.

I can't argue with that.

I worked for the state of Florida, under the 'union' FNA. My employer tried to terminate me, unjustly, and I turned to the FNA for help. Help ha. They sided with my administrator. Fortunately, I went higher, beyond the District, and shorted his attempt out. Even in a right to work state, a 'union' is only as strong as the employer allows it to be.

Grannynurse

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You are incorrect. If you work at a facility that is a closed shop, you do not have to join the union, to work there. As another poster said, you must only pay the union dues, no one forces you to join. I have worked in closed shops, as has my brother, and neither of us were ever forced to join the union, just to keep our jobs. I've also worked in 'right to work' states. A state where an employer can terminate you without giving a cause, just or unjust. To be honest, I would rather work under a strong union, then work at will for an employer who could fire me at anytime without cause.

As for the tax cuts. I didn't benefit from any of them. Neither did my daughter or SIL, nor many nurses I know, so there was nothing to give back.

Grannynurse:rolleyes:

Sorry about the error, but why should I have to "pay dues" to an organization of which I am not a member, and which would not represent me. Forced payment of anything is kinda like extortion. Labor unions are just like corporations, they will lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want.

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As for the tax cuts. I didn't benefit from any of them. Neither did my daughter or SIL, nor many nurses I know, so there was nothing to give back.

Grannynurse:rolleyes:

I hear this often, and the news loves to paint "Bush's Tax Cuts for the Rich", so I went to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO.gov) and here are the Effective Tax Rates from Clinton to Bush broken down by income quints:

Lowest- 1999/ 6.1%; 2000/6.4%; 2001/5.4%

2nd Quintile- 1999/13.3%; 2000/13.0%; 2001/11.6%

Middle- 1999/16.9%; 2000/16.7%; 2001/15.2%

4th Quintile- 1999/20.5%; 2000/20.5%; 2001/19.3%

Highest- 1999/28.0%; 2000/28%; 2001/26.8%

So, if you paid income taxes, then you benefited from Bush's Tax Cuts. The population in 1999 paid from 6.1% up to 28.0% and in 2001 paid 5.4%-26.8%, so everyones taxes went down.

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Labor unions are just like corporations, they will lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want.
A little harsh don't you think?
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Labor unions are just like corporations, they will lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want.

You know what? Even if that's true, I don't care.

Latest Bureau of Labor Statistics on union versus non-union pay in 2005.

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm

Union workers, on average, made $180 more a week than non-union workers in 2005. That's $9,000 more a year.

So even if they lie, cheat and steal ... at least they help me. The corporation lies, cheats, steals ... and rips me off.

:typing

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