How is the union at Biloxi VA?

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Specializes in Rehabilitation nursing.

Hi everyone,

Do any of you Biloxi VA nurses have any info on the union at that VA? If so, how is it and are they effective? Thanks for any information you can give. :)

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Specializes in icu/er.

I had no idea they had a union for nurses in the state of Mississippi..WOW. Please someone chime in and give us some info on it.

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Up until a year ago I was working at the Biloxi VA. When my job here in Arizona ends I will be moving back and going back to work at the V.A. In my opinion the the V.A. in Biloxi has a very good union....unless something has changed in the last year.

RN1980- V.A.'s are the only facilities in Mississippi with Unions.

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Specializes in icu/er.

i had no idea they were, no wonder many of the nurses i meet that work at the va love it.

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Specializes in icu/er.

will someone please educate me on why the union at the va in biloxi has not spread their wings and took up shop in other hospitals in mississippi?

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Specializes in PACU, LTC, Med-Surg, Telemetry, Psych.
will someone please educate me on why the union at the va in biloxi has not spread their wings and took up shop in other hospitals in mississippi?

I worked at the Jackson MS VA for a bit as a CNA. They have a union as well - the CNAs had a beautiful union there, though I did hear complaints from the RNs that their union did not go to bat for them quite as much (unless things have changed - it has been a few years)

The reason is MS is an employment at will state. Federal stuff like the VA tolerates unions and plays a bit nicer, but HMA/ Baptist/ ect. will find a reason to be rid of anyone who remotely has any serious attempt to form one. Get blackballed from HMA? You may as well move to another state or hope you know a doctor's clinic to help out if you are a nurse because they own 60-75% of the facilities in MS.

But, yeah. VA payed a fair rate (even for CNAs), we got double pay on holidays, we did not get "sent home" if some census was not filled, and generally (with some exceptions - but, then again, there are jerks at every place) got treated professionally.

If more places would follow the VAs example, you would have less medical turn over.

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