Oregon strike

Nurses General Nursing

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I heard there is a pending strike in Oregon. A friend was asking me about it. Has anyone heard about that?

I'm not mother Theresa and have no desire to be. I asked you about this because you specifically called union nurses greedy and not strikebreakers. The strikebreakers are there solely because of the money. I have a hard time believing nurses would strike only for the money. They are risking their jobs and their livelyhood by striking.

Mother Theresa had a reputation and it was not always nice!! I don't think most nurses strike only for the money...but it always seems to be in the contract somewhere. I worked a strike once...at a lower pay than my independant practice, until I went into OT. It just happened that I moved into the location and nurses had just started a strike. Merely fate. But does the raise nurses get equal the amount they lost out on strike?

Try to stay cool on this hot issue or the mods will shut this thread down.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Mother Theresa had a reputation and it was not always nice!! I don't think most nurses strike only for the money...but it always seems to be in the contract somewhere. I worked a strike once...at a lower pay than my independant practice, until I went into OT. It just happened that I moved into the location and nurses had just started a strike. Merely fate. But does the raise nurses get equal the amount they lost out on strike?

Try to stay cool on this hot issue or the mods will shut this thread down.

tell that to people who deliberately insult entire groups just to make a point, Zen.
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. But does the raise nurses get equal the amount they lost out on strike?

No, that's why I find it pretty laughable to insist that union nurses are striking all over the place for all the cash they'll get.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Mother Theresa had a reputation and it was not always nice!! I don't think most nurses strike only for the money...but it always seems to be in the contract somewhere. I worked a strike once...at a lower pay than my independant practice, until I went into OT. It just happened that I moved into the location and nurses had just started a strike. Merely fate. But does the raise nurses get equal the amount they lost out on strike?

Try to stay cool on this hot issue or the mods will shut this thread down.

That is why it can be worth it! You and I both know, it's not just about money, most times, zen. So yes, it can be worth it in the long run, if working conditions and patient safety are improved as a result. Like said before, nurses do NOT strike lightly and without some real deep thought.

There was a time when we were talking about a walkout where I worked some years ago. A telephone poll was conducted to see where people stood on the issue of a possible strike. Well, let me tell you, It struck fear and worry in my heart, just the mere thought----- it did NOT inspire excitement or joy. But, I said I would do it, when the issues raised were about things like safe staffing ratios, benefits and yes, a raise. But, believe me, It's about more than money.

You could say, striking nurses don't want to rely on "fate" but rather, control their destinies and those of their patients.

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You bet I'm self serving only in nursing to got to CRNA school. But I admit it freely. All I hear from a lot of nurses on here is how bad we scabs are, as if unions aren't totally self serving. The CNA in California is totally self serving. If you want to take less patients then deduct it from your pay on a ratio basis. If you currently take six patients then everyone you give up let the hospital take 15% from you. This idea that hospitals and administrtors are money grubbing slave drivers is ludicrous. If your job sucks that much then leave!!!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
You bet I'm self serving only in nursing to got to CRNA school. But I admit it freely. All I hear from a lot of nurses on here is how bad we scabs are, as if unions aren't totally self serving. The CNA in California is totally self serving. If you want to take less patients then deduct it from your pay on a ratio basis. If you currently take six patients then everyone you give up let the hospital take 15% from you. This idea that hospitals and administrtors are money grubbing slave drivers is ludicrous. If your job sucks that much then leave!!!

Or.....................

change conditions so it's reasonable to stay, for me and for others. Not to mention, it may be better for patients, too! Gee, you want to be a patient on the receiving end of an RN who takes 15% more to take more patients in her load? Wow excellent advocacy!!!! :rolleyes:

Yes, staying, fighting for what is fair and right. That would be the alternative to job-hopping and running away from one's troubles. Staying yet, EFFECTING change is the harder thing to do, I guess, hmmm.

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Or.....................

change conditions so it's reasonable to stay, for me and for others. Not to mention, it may be better for patients, too! Gee, you want to be a patient on the receiving end of an RN who takes 15% more to take more patients in her load? Wow excellent advocacy!!!! :rolleyes:

Yes, staying, fighting for what is fair and right. That would be the alternative to job-hopping and running away from one's troubles. Staying yet, EFFECTING change is the harder thing to do, I guess, hmmm.

Took me a little while to learn this, but like a spouse you ain't gonna change anything. You either put up with it or leave

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Or.....................

change conditions so it's reasonable to stay, for me and for others. Not to mention, it may be better for patients, too!

Yes, That would be the alternative to job-hopping and running away from one's troubles. Staying yet, EFFECTING change is the harder thing to do, I guess, hmmm.

Effecting change is hard...but is the warrior approach the best way?

I'm going to leave my current position after 2 years because I realize that I will not change much here, mainly because it's a cultural issue...and I don't have a thousand years to break that. So much easier to go to that new place down the street where things are better...according to my buddies who are there now...waiting on me :chuckle

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Effecting change is hard...but is the warrior approach the best way?

I'm going to leave my current position after 2 years because I realize that I will not change much here, mainly because it's a cultural issue...and I don't have a thousand years to break that. So much easier to go to that new place down the street where things are better...according to my buddies who are there now...waiting on me :chuckle

Zen where did I say it was" best" ? Did you read my post about where we were polled as to whether to strike or not where I worked? If you did, you know better how I feel.

TALKS are BEST. NEGOTIATING IS BEST, striking is and should be a LAST RESORT, only. NO ONE takes it lightly or takes joy in striking, believe me.....

Thankfully, In our case, it never came to that, as talks finally succeeded, both sides got some of what they wanted. Neither "triumphed" but we lived with the new terms. It was a good change for us, however.

Negotiation is always best, but failing that, in extreme circumstances, sometimes people have to take a stand. If you want to call that being a warrior, so be it.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Took me a little while to learn this, but like a spouse you ain't gonna change anything. You either put up with it or leave

wrong. Where I worked, we got a LOT of what we wanted and things improved VASTLY when our union was put in place. But I don't expect people as staunchly anti-union as yourself to believe a word I say. I just can only speak from my experiences, having worked in both environments over the years.

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Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.

This thread is full of carp and ridiculous. I was the first person to mention the word "scab" here.

SCAB is what a person who breaks a picket line to work during which time the union workers are on strike. It's a very generalized nasty term and it's as old as the hills. There can be steel-worker scabs. Auto-worker scabs. Hotel-worker scabs. And Nurse scabs.

Why is there so much hostility in this thread? MY union is NOT self-serving. ANd I take complete offense to the accusations of what my motives would be if we had to, god forbid, go on strike. ACTUALLY - my union has a NO-STRIKES or Lockouts part written into the contract!

I acknowledge that people can have strong feelings in opposition to unions. I had a nursing instructor who was completely against unions because of her memories as a child and her dad being out on strike and how hard it was for her family to keep food on the table, shoes on kids feet, and the emotional turmoil it caused her mom and dad. SHe never disagreed that the reason for the strike wasn't justified. She also made it CLEAR that she would NEVER break a picket line.

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Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.
This idea that hospitals and administrtors are money grubbing slave drivers is ludicrous.

While you're sitting in your well-paid (or not. maybe you should scab somewhere else that pays more) cush assignment (cause you know the hospital is going to make it as easy as possible for the scabs), why not do some reading about HCA or Tenet?

I really, really don't get you.

All done.

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