How do YOU feel about nurses striking?

[LydiaGreen]

In Professional Growth II, my group has to debate the pros and cons of nurses striking. There seems to be a lot of info out there about how patients feel, management feel, etc. What I want to know is how do NURSES feel about striking? Are you for it, or against it? Thanks in advance for your answers ladies and gentlemen.

[krazykev]

Yes, there is no reason why we should not be able to go on strike. After all, it is only by standing up for ourselves that others with know and understand that we are are serious about bringing about change.

[woody62, RN]

During January of 1966 I was a junior at Elmhurst City Hospital, Queens, New York. Lindsey(?) was our new mayor and it was the first time that R.N.'s ever went out on strike. Their demands were simple, the biggest, a contract that would pay every R.N. $5,000 a year. They went out for a week and with the permission of our school principals, we worked evenings and nights in their place. I didn't know much about unions, I had grown up as a dependent of a career military office. And the military didn't have unions, still don't. But I thought their demands were fair.

In the Spring of 1977 I worked for the Department of Health, State of New York. 1199 struck every hospital in the city they had contracts with. I was sent as a monitor, to ensure that no patient was place in jeopardy. The second day I walked across the line, I was hit in the head, by a placard carried by a 1199 striker. I need several stitches but I kept working. I and a city employee made several changes in the set up of Bellvue and kept it open. I could have blamed 1199 but I thought about how little they were paid and how much was expected of them.

In 1982 I was represented by the Florida State Nurses Association, as a psychiatric nurse specialist at one of the three mental hospitals in the state. I had been set up by a charge aide and nearly killed by a patient. After coming back to testify at the dismissal of the aide, I was told by the Administrator to report back to work the following evening. I went to the FNA asking for them to represent me, according to our contract and according to the rules. They told me I had to return to work. I went to the head of the state agency, told him my story and won a delay in my return. I later resigned my position and I left the FNA never to rejoin it.

How do I feel about strikes and unions? There are times and places, as well as needs, for everything. If an administration will not work with its nurses, it gets everything it deserves when they get stroke. But I do not go for some of the things that unions encourage.

Woody:balloons:

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Oh Tom so glad to see some things never ever change; after nearly 5 years even!

Why would I

smiling after a day of golf, looking to golf tomorrow too

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I say that nurses should strike, but the striking and benefits should include all nurses, LPN and RNs.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

During January of 1966 I was a junior at Elmhurst City Hospital, Queens, New York. Lindsey(?) was our new mayor and it was the first time that R.N.'s ever went out on strike. Their demands were simple, the biggest, a contract that would pay every R.N. $5,000 a year. They went out for a week and with the permission of our school principals, we worked evenings and nights in their place. I didn't know much about unions, I had grown up as a dependent of a career military office. And the military didn't have unions, still don't. But I thought their demands were fair.

In the Spring of 1977 I worked for the Department of Health, State of New York. 1199 struck every hospital in the city they had contracts with. I was sent as a monitor, to ensure that no patient was place in jeopardy. The second day I walked across the line, I was hit in the head, by a placard carried by a 1199 striker. I need several stitches but I kept working. I and a city employee made several changes in the set up of Bellvue and kept it open. I could have blamed 1199 but I thought about how little they were paid and how much was expected of them.

In 1982 I was represented by the Florida State Nurses Association, as a psychiatric nurse specialist at one of the three mental hospitals in the state. I had been set up by a charge aide and nearly killed by a patient. After coming back to testify at the dismissal of the aide, I was told by the Administrator to report back to work the following evening. I went to the FNA asking for them to represent me, according to our contract and according to the rules. They told me I had to return to work. I went to the head of the state agency, told him my story and won a delay in my return. I later resigned my position and I left the FNA never to rejoin it.

How do I feel about strikes and unions? There are times and places, as well as needs, for everything. If an administration will not work with its nurses, it gets everything it deserves when they get stroke. But I do not go for some of the things that unions encourage.

Woody:balloons:

Our world is getting even closer...I currently work for an HHC hospital and I did my clinical rotation at Elmhurst Hospital in 2005/06.

[woody62, RN]

Our world is getting even closer...I currently work for an HHC hospital and I did my clinical rotation at Elmhurst Hospital in 2005/06.

I once found a nurse that graduated from Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York's School of Nursing down here. And the ortho that did my surgery, in January was a graduate of it's medical school and did his residency there. And has a son in the medical school. The scarest was meeting Steve Tucci, a rehab doctor, after I had worked with him when he was doing his residency and fellowship, while completing his PhD. He still practices down here and he is still an excellent doctor and all for the patients.

Some of the stories I could tell you about Elmhurst would turn your hair grey, if it isn't all ready. Especially about our mandated M & M conferences.

Woody:balloons:

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I once found a nurse that graduated from Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York's School of Nursing down here. And the ortho that did my surgery, in January was a graduate of it's medical school and did his residency there. And has a son in the medical school. The scarest was meeting Steve Tucci, a rehab doctor, after I had worked with him when he was doing his residency and fellowship, while completing his PhD. He still practices down here and he is still an excellent doctor and all for the patients.

Some of the stories I could tell you about Elmhurst would turn your hair grey, if it isn't all ready. Especially about our mandated M & M conferences.

Woody:balloons:

Have you heard that Elmhurst obtained Magnet Status in 2005? I am quite sure that you can tell me many stories. If you are willing to share some of them, feel free to PM me. What are M&M conferences?

[JBudd, MSN]

Well, seeings how I was on the picket line in the 80's, my vote is not only yes but ABSOLUTELY yes.

Community, not-for-profit hospital, truama center, only one in town.

Conditions were getting worse and worse, morale was totally down the tubes, and the contract they were offering tried to strip away all scheduling protections (things like no doubling back on shifts). It totally did away with any input about our benefits (basically, take whatever health insurance they thought necessary). Nurses with more than 20years were getting offered about $50 (that's fifty, not a typo) a month pension. Wages were around 20% less than a city 55 miles away, with a significantly lower cost of living, and multiple hospitals. Chronically understaffed. We understood the need to adapt health insurance as needed by the market, we just wanted a voice in it, not absolute control. My dh showed a copy of the proposed contract to his coworkers, they all said it was surprising we waited as long as we did to walk.

LPNs and RNs were in it together. We had a 98% walk out.

No, we did not just abandon patients: as required by federal law there was a 10 day notice, the hospital shipped out and stopped admitting, closed down to a few ICU beds and 6 or 7 MS beds, staffed by administrative nurses and only about 3 who crossed the line. We did not block entrance by ambulances, nor interfere with anyone who wanted to enter.

Our city supported us on a large scale, donuts and lunch wagons were sent, etc. One doc came out of the nearby medical/dental building and walked the picket line with us on his lunch break. Another sent hot food to the night shift on the line.

Once the board of trustees got involved (they had been lied to about a great many things), negotiations took a turn for the better, and the strike was over in 8 days. But it was a very long 8 days, and it took a while before everyone was back to work, but the patients came back fairly quickly all things considered.

Conditions have been greatly improved ever since. We have a voice, and although we sometimes have a tough fight, its never gotten so bad again that striking was seriously considered.

:pumpiron::pumpiron::pumpiron::pumpiron::pumpiron:

Reviewed my post, realized this thread is from 2003. Ah well, some things never change.

[adagiogray]

CAVEAT: The contents of my reply are intended to convey my OPINION, this is not a troll or flamebait, and I really don't care if anyone responds to my post or not.

I think nurse strikes are a wonderful thing: they provide many lucrative opportunities for me.

Someone has to take care of the patients. Period, end of story.

It's at-will employment. You know exactly what you're going to make per hour, and have a reasonable idea as to your work environment within a few days to weeks of starting work. The best way to get what you want is to speak with your feet - work where the cash and rules are more to your liking. With the shortage of qualified nurse professionals, organizations have every interest in accomodating reasonable requests. Strikes are akin to professional bullying and threats IMNSHO.

I wouldn't want to pay exorbitant union dues to a body that may or may not speak for me, but hey, if it's your bag go for it. I don't need a middle man to get what I want out of my career.