If no union in right-to-work state, then what?

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I live and work in Louisiana. Judging by our southern morals and being "set in our ways", we will probably never get a union or at least any time soon. Any suggestions to help increase NURSE safety, a safer nurse/patient ratio, nursing wages (baseline, we make $20/hr), and generally increase nurse well-being? REALLY wanting to make changes in my establishment....

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Specializes in ICU.

I like your optimism! I don't really think there are ways to change anything at all right now in right to work states. If your employer doesn't like what you're saying, they can just fire you. I think nurses have to wait until there is an actual shortage of nurses to make a difference. Walking out of your job isn't going to do anything when there are probably hundreds of people willing to work in any condition ready to take your spot, but if there was a nursing shortage and staff walked out, that's how change could happen. Just my two cents.

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Specializes in ICU.

I hear ya. I am in the south, too, and unions are few and far between down here, plus I live in a "right to work" state. I have worked at quite a few hospitals over the years, both full-time and prn, and none of them have had a union. TBH, none of the nurses I work with seem to be interested in a union. It seems the older nurses, like me, are more on board with wanting job security, better wages, etc., than the younger nurses are. I am curious to see other posters comments on this.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

"I live and work in Louisiana."

Stop that.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

You have to take a very long view and realise that until the groundwork is laid no union will ever form. That groundwork largely consists of educating fellow nurses to the issues and learning how to control the working environment. Know the federal and state laws that govern your practice and use them to your advantage. Educate families and patients to what is safe and what isn't. Most nurses think they are powerless but if you can start thinking of what you can accomplish as a group then you can begin to change things. Safety is a good start because the public will back you and nurses see first hand the dangers patients face. I would forget any talk of union and start by identifying what you want to change and what are the tools at your disposal.

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There ARE unions for nurses in LA--at the VAMCs in Shreveport, Alexandria, and NO.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma ICU, CVICU.

I worked at a unionized hospital in Texas. It isn't everything its cracked up to be. I am pretty sure we were better off before they came around....Seriously. Before they came our raises were 3-5% yearly based on evaluations. Now they are

Good luck with your issues. I am so glad to hear your passion. But, there has to be another way!!!

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Specializes in Dialysis.
There ARE unions for nurses in LA--at the VAMCs in Shreveport, Alexandria, and NO.

Toothless tigers. Their contract forbids them from striking.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
I worked at a unionized hospital in Texas. It isn't everything its cracked up to be. I am pretty sure we were better off before they came around....Seriously. Before they came our raises were 3-5% yearly based on evaluations. Now they are

Good luck with your issues. I am so glad to hear your passion. But, there has to be another way!!!

Some unions are better than others. Some actually cut backroom deals with management to give employees below-market wages. You might have one of those. Bad unions can be decertified. As for protecting the jobs of worthless employees - the union is not supposed to do that. Their job is to make sure the contract is applied fairly. A lot of managers will use unions as an excuse to avoid disciplining employees.

I really think all nursing schools should provide a class on labour laws and collective bargaining. There is so much misinformation among nurses and feelings of powerlessness. It doesn't have to be this way.

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Toothless tigers. Their contract forbids them from striking.

RIGHT! Well get behind HR 4580 and give us a hand here! We gotta ditch this 2-year probation!

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Toothless tigers. Their contract forbids them from striking.

Nurses at the Minneapolis VA, where I have worked, have a SWEET deal. Guaranteed hours, low nurse to patient ratios, decent benefits, decent pay, and protection from being fired in secret and without cause. Their union seems very effective to me.

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Toothless tigers. Their contract forbids them from striking.

Right! Support H.R. 4580! We need your help!

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