I am relatively new to this board but there seems to be a trend relative to Pro and Anti-Union posts and posters.
Union membership in nursing is on the rise. Still there are more nurses who choose not to orgainize than who do. Will the trend continue to rise to a point where unions hold the majority of nurses as members? Time will tell. If I used this board as a barometer, I would think we are headed down a divided, non-constructive path.
Threads on this board seem to get heated and then closed. Some members use the board to support, without exception, their hardline position about unions. Kinda looks like some have drunk the kool-aide to a point of no return. The first ammendment is a wonderful think but it says nothing about objectivity
As long as we hold the line in one camp- union vs. management, as a profession we remain captive and dependent. It's just not reasonable or rational to think that one or the other is always working for our best interests. We all know horror stories and we can all recite great gains won by unions and facilitated by an employer.
Don't drink the kool-aide. The purple mustache is a dead give-away.
Specializes in Cardiac Critical Care, Trauma, Neuro..
These union reps are nurses who work on my unit. A unit representative. We had a great union rep. She didn't put up with any crap from management if problems came up. She was fired. Now, the reps are passive as they fear losing their jobs. They continually frost the moldy cake. There is no other hospital in this town. I am going to look into another union and approach the other nurses. Our contract is not up until 2008.
Why was your great union rep fired? The union was not able to protect her? The unions are always telling us that they will protect its members from being disciplined or terminated without cause.
I am sure she invoked her Weingarten Rights and used every means the union could provide to keep her job?
Why are the new reps passive for fear of losing their job as well? What do they have to fear as long as they are not breaking any laws or rules? The union protects its members from retaliatory disciplinary action. I am sure the reps would get even extra protection.
this debate is an exercise in futility. people are either fundamentally against or for unions. and even if you are fundamentally for unions, you might think that the systems are so corrupt that its better to be against, but not ideologically.
im fundamentally for unions. i also believe that paying higher taxes so that others can eat and get health care is inherent in the social contract and should be required by law. there are those who would call me a godless pinko freak for that. toMAYo toMAHto
Why was your great union rep fired? The union was not able to protect her? The unions are always telling us that they will protect its members from being disciplined or terminated without cause.
I am sure she invoked her Weingarten Rights and used every means the union could provide to keep her job?
Why are the new reps passive for fear of losing their job as well? What do they have to fear as long as they are not breaking any laws or rules? The union protects its members from retaliatory disciplinary action. I am sure the reps would get even extra protection.
Wow! Hard to believe, just fired.
Well, I'm not sure this union really protects the members rights. This nurse was fired for asking a doctor...in front of the patient, if she wanted some labs ordered on the patient. The doctor complained to management and they fired her. Stated she was practicing medicine. She was very active in the union and I'm sure it was to get rid of the bad union egg. Just today at work the contract was breeched...once again. I asked the nurse involved if she was going to file a grievance. She said NO, I don't want to come across as a whiner. I'm really over this attitude. These nurses just don't get it. The contract is violated on an hourly basis and the nurses will not take action. Why do I want to be a part of this. As far as I'm concerned, these nurses deserve all the misery that is dealt to them by this management.
this debate is an exercise in futility. people are either fundamentally against or for unions. and even if you are fundamentally for unions, you might think that the systems are so corrupt that its better to be against, but not ideologically.
im fundamentally for unions. i also believe that paying higher taxes so that others can eat and get health care is inherent in the social contract and should be required by law. there are those who would call me a godless pinko freak for that. toMAYo toMAHto
This is exactly what I'm trying to say. I give up but at the same time, I want to make it stronger and better. I'm very much for unions, but not for ones that you never hear from. You don't get action until the situation is at a crisis level, like now. I'm not sure they are going to be able to pull themselves out of it now.
Specializes in ER (new), Respitory/Med Surg floor.
I actually don't think this site leans one way or the other. There are plenty of anti-union posters and pro-union posters. Vive la difference!
I have seen that myself. And both sides are very passioniate about it. I'm young ony been a nurse for 3 years never in unions before. I don't know if it's better with one or not. My interpretation of "bullying" is calling your home, corning you, menacing, almost physical threats to VOTE for certain membesr or clauses. Unless the people on this board mean bullying as forced to pay dues a form of bullying you. To me that's not bullying. When I started my job the union reps came in, explained their cause and told us we were required to pay dues. Was annoyed, well yea I didn't like being told what to do but that was the requirement to work there. It was a small amount, and if the idea was our best interests, well ok. And maybe that's not true for people here but the ones protesting the union so much don't come to the meetings, vote, or get involved at all. Maybe b/c that is to protest the union but then they get upset if certain things our passed. Well hey? Should have voted. I keep reading and hearing on here and other friends how unions were only needed in coal times. Well...ok it's the future, but do you think honestly think a money making hospital would negotiate appropriately if there was not a check and balance. LOOK how it is on here. Lots are not united. I just came from a unit of back stabbing arguing coworkers. I don't know if it's nursing or everywhere. Maybe b/c it is so stressful we take it out on one another, or the nature of working with people's lives people get all on a high horse but I see no unity to negotiate. I would think the company would use that to their advantage to divide everyone even more than they already are and in the confusion get their agenda.
Now... sounds like I'm all prounion, well I definitely see flaws. One of my coworkers was a horrible lazy nurse. There was an investigation by management, lawsuits threatened. The union was present but HELPED this nurse based on current union policies to protect the workers. So that didn't fly with me....however a later found out there were written documents and a witness willing to speak that superiors never enforced b/c they wanted us staff nurses to say all the issues so if any lawsuit it would come down on us. THAT ticked me off b/c the union didn't help us. I told the truth. This nurse couldn't physically do the job. They already new that. They had pt complaints. They were afraid of law suits. I can also see if somebody just based on the nurses I worked with had other agendas if they rose to the top could try to manipulate stuff like grievances to stir trouble. So far I have not noticed that but there is the potential.
NOW.... I just can't help but listen to the older nursed been at our facility over 10-20 years saying how bad it was before a union with management forcing overtime, limiting transfers, and very low pay. Well why is that? If we can negotiate for ourselve how come it was so difficult? Tell me please because what is the solution???? I see no win but the union providing SOME level of support for nurses that would not be there or too chaotic if not. Laws that govern overtime....well there have been attempts to alter overtime laws. One method to catagorized certain workers, nurses included, to have salary pay once a month a predetermined amount not requiring overtime pay. Maybe to include a percentage already anticipating some overtime. But my thing if salary what if you do MORE overtime than already incoporated. You will not be compensated. That's not right. Now I know this was attempted to pass. Don't know if it did or not. But there will allways be attempts to deregulate established laws. Sometimes that's needed with different times. But I think for now unions need to stay or something to safeguard our interests or rather just a collective united group for the employer to answer too. Maybe not change stuff drastically but try to prevent really horrible working conditions.
And everyone. I'm sick of the liberal/conservative pro anti union stuff. I'll say a peice here and there but really it's pathetic in this country (USA). I'm sick of if we disagree personally attacking the other side as if their worthless. We are so split. Also just because you are liberal or conservative doesn't mean you are definitely union or pro union based on that. And the sick thing is I really feel like most of the US agrees or rather believes in a lot of the same things but stray based on several major issues, like unions for one, abortion, gay marriage. I really feel people just really want to support themselves and their family and hopefully cost effectively. I'm sick of the bickering. I'm sick if you disagree with someone you are totally against that person. Unity...I don't understand how divided people can be wanting many of the basics things in life. Maybe we are all stuborn and it's human. I'm tired though. I'm sick of watching the news. I can't stand it anymore. Laws to stop burning the flag almost passed in congress when it's actually the proper and patriotic way to dispose it and it's just wow THAT'S what we are worrying about then we have some major hurdles. And I'm finding myself more dismayed when I read discussions like this from fellow nurses how divided everyone is. I'm just going to do my job the best I can. If I need to leave I will but this is crazy!
Specializes in ER (new), Respitory/Med Surg floor.
I must say, though, that part of the reason there are so many mine tragedies is that mines are inherently unsafe. That doesn't mean that all safety precautions shouldn't be taken. It just strikes me as a bit unreasonable to draw clear inferences about the effectiveness of unions based solely on the fact that accidents happen in mines.
Here is an example of why unions are important at my hospital. We have RN's and LPN's working here. The RN's are union and the LPN's are not. I'm not sure why LPN's cannot be in our union, but they can't. We have encouraged them to organize, but they won't for a multitude of reasons. Our contract stipulates that if an RN is called to work within 24 hours of the shift, he/she gets time and a half. LPN's are not included in this. The hospital does not give the LPN's this benefit and they come to work, just like the RN's and work hard and long hours. I say the hospital should give them that benefit but it is union contract and only the RN's are allowed that benefit. Now, if we did not have a contract, do you think we would get time and a half for agreeing to work within 24 hours? No, I don't think we would. This is one example of the many benefits RN's here get, that LPN's don't. It is not fair. So you cannot say that union contracts don't help their nurses, they do. However, there are other parts of the contract that get violated on an hourly basis. Unless the nurses, who are being violated stand up and say, I'm not taking this, it will go on and on. We have a union meeting today, the first in years so we will so what happens.
Good luck in your meeting. If you union is not able to enforce the contract then perhaps you should contact another union. Decert the one you have and vote in the next one.
We had our first meeting yesterday. 6 nurses showed up. There are 72 in our unit. This is a start. I contacted the others and they all are going to start showing up and help make our working conditions better. It is a start. I have a question. Can LPN's be in an RN union. Our LPN's are not included in our bargaining unit and I'm not sure why. Can anyone answer this? Thanks.
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
can lpn's be in an rn union. our lpn's are not included in our bargaining unit and i'm not sure why. can anyone answer this? thanks.
nlrb uses a " disparity of interests" standard ".
most nursing unions are ruled all rn due to professional standards; lpn's as considered "technical worker" (legal standards per nursing license) therefore separate union
this is same reason why ana represents rn's and lpn's do not have membership: unable to represent the interests of both groups fairly, conflict of interests, especially when federal labor laws are involved. many nurses have difficulty understanding this concept.
most nursing unions are ruled all rn due to professional standards; lpn's as considered "technical worker" (legal standards per nursing license) therefore separate union
this is same reason why ana represents rn's and lpn's do not have membership: unable to represent the interests of both groups fairly, conflict of interests, especially when federal labor laws are involved. many nurses have difficulty understanding this concept.
Sherwood
223 Posts
Why was your great union rep fired? The union was not able to protect her? The unions are always telling us that they will protect its members from being disciplined or terminated without cause.
I am sure she invoked her Weingarten Rights and used every means the union could provide to keep her job?
Why are the new reps passive for fear of losing their job as well? What do they have to fear as long as they are not breaking any laws or rules? The union protects its members from retaliatory disciplinary action. I am sure the reps would get even extra protection.
Wow! Hard to believe, just fired.