How to bring in a nurses union in a non union state?

[sunshinepsychRN]

I relocated to NC a few years ago from up north, and while I love it here, I am amazed and appalled by what some of these admins. can get away with in these hospitals. I have been reminded time and again that this is a "right to work" state and pretty much anything can be a reason to be terminated. I have witnessed peers that were "too verbal" be targeted and later fired for seemingly insignificant things. We have had our schedules changed multiple times without any input or regard from the nurses (and of course reminded if we don't like it we could go else where), turnover rate is high, (the Rn with the most seniority on my unit has only been there about 3 years) and staffing ratio is ridiculous, I could go on and on. Having come from a state with a union to fight for us nurses, I would love any and all input from anybody who knows anything about NC and why we have no unions here, as well as any states that have started there own unions. Can I legally be fired if I try to organize a union in my hospital? Could really use some input and guidance here. I love what I do, and I love my pts, I just wish we had a voice and were treated like professionals.

[nicurn001]

Jhanes I could answer your question am I a communist , by asking if you are a fascist.I don't think either of us are either of those , so rather than try to box someone in by an emotive title lets stick to reasoned arguement .

No I do not feel it is right to impose any system on others , but fervently believe in the right of the ballot box and freedom of self expression , but it is not simply the domain of the left wing to impose its will on people they control , I think the Arab Spring has been brought about by peoples rebelling against their fascist leaders . I am sure either of us could look through history to prove our point re. imposition of power by governments of the whole gamut of [political expression) .

As to the leadership of unions , who would you want to lead a organisation that is meant to represent you as an employee in discussions with management . Would you want someone with sympathetic views for labor or management ?, I don't think the right wing of politics is known for standing up for workers rights . If you don't like the actions of your union leadership, at least you have the option to use the democratic process to change its direction , you do not have that option with an intransigent poor management .

Hitler , although his party had socialist in its name , socialism had very little to do with his philosophy , he had no problem in persecuting real socialists , communist and union members in Germany . I seem to recollect he went onto invade the USSR , not exactly a fraternal action of one socialist to another .

[PeaceonearthRN]

Hi Sunshine,

You might want to contact unions in various states to see how they handled this.

U.H.S. is a big company with a lot of 'connections'.

Good luck

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

the less nursing unions, the better.

honestly, they just make the relationship between nurses and management worse. every tiny insignificant thing becomes a battle.

Yeah, I hate how my union focuses on tiny, insignificant things like staffing, wages, benefits, pension....

What a bunch of nimrods.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

You can't legally be fired for trying to form a union as long as you follow the rules.

However, you can (as many people have) be ILLEGALLY fired for trying to form a union and you will have no recourse.

Congratulations on your freedom to get treated like dirt. Enjoy it.

[yardienurse]

I am one of those nurses that have been targeted because I'm "outspoken." Moving to NC from NY I was not used to being spoken to like I an a nobody and I was black balled. I have had to work with nurse to pt ration of 1/10 and administration was no where to be found.

Also, why are we the lowest paying state for nurses?

We are in need of help as nurses to get things to change. Its going to take a group of dedicated nurses to stand up to change the Laws.

[yardienurse]

That's great that you have people willing to listen.

Here in NC I have not seen that at any of the hospitals in my community, especially the larger ones.

[DrStew]

of course if you had a union, you wouldn't have to face this yourselves.

[DrStew]

Dude.....chill. I'm as Republican as anybody but there is a time and a place for unions. Child labor laws didn't get changed by the children. Factory workers didn't get minimum wage from their generous employers.

There's a time and a place for everything. I actually think that a nursing union might not be a bad thing. It will only be as liberal or conservative as the nurses that make up the body of the union. Right now, the administrators of hospital systems are focused on the bottom line and not much else. They're trying everything from the Disney model to the Starbucks model to change the way hospitals do business.

Let's face it....we had to take all that BS nursing theory for a reason. I think that the nurses need a bigger voice and some political muscle to get things done.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

Sorry but When the nurse got Ebola from not being given proper protective equipment ,you better believe her union got involved.It was for everyones well being.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

Yes indeed.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

First you need to select which union you want,the stronger the better,but you can not do it alone.Then contact the union.It is a long hard battle and right to work states will fight you tooth and nail.I myself have worked in three types of institutions ,union,weak union, or non union. I prefer strong union,but fighting for your rights is a lonely fight in NC.

Off with their heads as they say.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

I don't know what fantasyland unions you've been working with, but all the nursing unions I have encountered were never rational in the slightest. Nothing but threatening and trying to start battles between nurses and management.

Yes, the economy is bad and nurses are not in short supply at the moment, but that's true of every field right now.

You sound like you never really fully participated in your union ,because if you had you would know that THE NURSES are the union.Every member is The Union and supports it and is active in it.