Joy In Striking???

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 3, 2003

As a relatively new RN

Whenyou have walked thru the fires these nurses have you will someday understand why these nurses rejected this contract and behaved this way.

Hope you are never MANDATED to stay for 20 hours with unsafe staffing and your license on the line.

CCL"Babe", BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2003

I never thought that I would condone nurses striking. But... These nurses are aiming for a higher goal. Patient safety. Their safety. All our our safety. When you are continually forced to work long hours, you can not function properly. I never quite understood it until I worked a job with mandatory overtime.

The issues of "medical mishaps" being the 9th leadiing cause of accidental death in the US. The dangers of driving overtired, that are just like driving drunk. I have fallen asleep more than once on my way home from work after having performeed overtime.

What about who or what is waiting at home for these nurses. Childcare issues? How would you like going to work and never quite knowing when you were going to be able to leave. How do you plan your day, let alone your life?

If Tenent made a valent effort to clean up it's act and treat it's employees better, there wouldn't be these issues. The search for the almighty dollar. The profit for the high end administrators. Who cares how we get it just show a profit.

oldiebutgoodie, RN · Dec 3, 2003

As long as nurses continue to take the poor treatment that is handed to them, they will be second class citizens. The striking nurses are empowering all of us by refusing to take it!

If nursing was primarily a male-oriented profession, we would be better paid and be given more humane hours. That's because guys don't take a lot of abuse. But we women, unfortunately, are willing to sacrifice our health, pay, and careers for other people. Not a good idea in the long run.

I say, good for the strikers! It's time nurses stood up for their rights!

Oldie but goodie

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2003

I could understand the rejecting of the contract and the need to strike. I fully support that.

But to erupt into cheers? To me having to reduced to striking is a sad event. But as you know I'm in a nonunion part of the world.

I agree, seems strange not that they are striking, but that they cheered about it.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 3, 2003

CCL"Babe":

AGREE 1000% with your post! Summed up all the key points.

ERKev · Dec 3, 2003

"ashamed"??? Nursing NEEDS to show strength in dealing with corporate America! I've been in a few union facilities that had some serious issues to deal with and more often thn not, nurses cave just so they won't be out of work or put others out of work. Corporations count on this.

Also, nursing schools tend to foster anti-union attitudes in students, telling them that truly caring nurses would not unionize or strike. Bunk! When we, as a profession, can stand together and show a unified front that will improve patient care and improve the status (and yes - PAY!), we will not have a shortage and will not be looked upon as handmaidens to physicians.

I'm curious as to how many nurses actually feel they are compensated appropriately? I know I work in a higher paying area of the country, but I feel our pay has a long way to go!

If you're ashamed of nurses seeing a strike vote as a victory, perhaps you should rethink your choice of career...

RNangelER · Dec 3, 2003

Sorry to hear that you feel that way XtREmeRN. You must be one the few at MCP that mandation does not effect. And if for some reason it does, I cannot imagine someone not rejoicing that a strong group of professionals took a stand and refused an offer to be forced to work at least 24x a year and only being able to refuse 3x. And WON! As said many times on this forum, mandation is not safe for our patients, our license, our health, or our families. It is not safe no matter what limits or provisions the second biggest healthcare corporation puts on it. Yes, this is a victory! At this time, it is a small victory. A small victory for our patients, the nurses at MCP and all around the country. The real victory will be when mandation is illegal! If you did not know there are 3 bills in the federal government that hopefully will be passed. And there are 5 bills in front of the Pennsylvania government. Law makers realize the risks involved and so should TENET!

TENET needs to realize the solutions to the shortage of Nurses at MCP is not mandation. It is recruitment and retention. How many nurses walking in to Human Resources do you think would be willing to take a job at MCP knowing they could be mandated 24x a year and can only refuse 3x. Not many! At the time of our strike there were anywhere from 60-75 RN positions available. If this contract was ratified there would have been more, due to many of your co-workers would have resigned.

There is joy in striking!

I have made so many new friends. People that worked in the same building with me for the past years that I never met. These relationships are now strong bonds that will never be broken. We enjoy sharing our thoughts and feelings whether they be happy or sad. There is joy in knowing we are one step closer to winning this battle. There is joy in seeing how courageous we can be. There is joy in seeing that people really do have "empathy and care" and they do not just want to accept a contract to get back in for the $$$.

Yes, many of us are out of work for the holidays but that is by choice. They are more than enough jobs in Philadelphia, the suburbs, and New Jersey to go around. Many are working and also doing their part for the strike and at the picket line. All it takes is a little motivation to look for a job in the meantime. I will say that it is sad that TENET chooses to keep their census at 44 patients (as it was most of last week). As it would have been if the contract was ratified. Many nurses will not go back to MCP under such a horrific contract. Therefore, other employees will still be getting laid off and their hours cut. I do not think one nurse on strike is not thinking about the effects this is having on other employees. And of course we are all sadden by this.

You bet, we should be rejoicing. We just had another little win over a Corporate Giant. I am not ashamed of myself. I am PROUD. Proud to be a nurse at MCP on strike. Proud of everyone's hard work and efforts. Proud to be part of a fight in a just cause!

oldiebutgoodie, RN · Dec 3, 2003

I agree with ERKev totally!

Look at teachers--they have a powerful union, and in my area, they make some pretty incredible money.

Nurses don't have much of a union presence, make lousy wages considering all the education they have to have, and have less than optimal working conditions. See a connection?

Oldie but goodie

Joe Hill · Dec 3, 2003

Originally posted by XtREmeRN
....I would like to express my sadness towards the exuberence displayed at yesterday's vote. Upon the announcement of the collaborative bargaining rejection, several union members erupted in cheer and celebration, one even had the audacity to pass out cigars. As a relatively new RN, it is unfortunate to see such a lack of compassion and the ignorance displayed....

First, let me say that no one votes for a strike in a playful manner. It is not a vacation. When people embark on a difficult enterprise, which is a strike, many gird themselves with exuberant displays. People going to war often display this behavior. A strike is a battle.

Having no knowledge of your worksite and it's conditions I will guess that the three main points are:

1: Mandatory Overtime

2. Staffing Ratios

3 Fair Monetary Compensation

Before you condemn your fellow workers, attend union meetings, such as labor/management meetings and the like to see what YOU are up against as a worker.

cannoli · Dec 3, 2003

This sounds like it was written by someone in administration or maybe just a pot stirrer.

They probably had good reason to cheer and they have no reason to be ashamed.

Where do you get off saying, "You all ought to be ashamed of yourselves."

Aren't you self-righteous.

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 3, 2003

Originally posted by NRSKarenRN
Whenyou have walked thru the fires these nurses have you will someday understand why these nurses rejected this contract and behaved this way.

Hope you are never MANDATED to stay for 20 hours with unsafe staffing and your license on the line.

You said it sister.:kiss

Just want to add to the new nurse: Read the numerous threads in our archives; get educated as to PRO and CON of striking and THEN decide if this behavior is so awful. it's up to you, but first please please get a picture of BOTH sides of the issue.

THIS IS THE REAL WORLD: People here on these very boards have been told on the job they can't go home cause their replacement is not coming. (mandated overtime)....can you imagine? You have worked 8 or 12 hours already! You have kids at home, no day care ----yet are told you are not going anywhere. And who cares for the kids? It's YOUR problem now, they do not care the "details" of your life.

OR you are called at home on your day off, after working 5 days straight. You are exhausted and need a break. But you are told: "We need help here and you are being asked to come in and help out. " You want to say no? UMMMM NOPE--- not if mandated. You are GOING IN or losing your job. What a choice huh????

OR You are mandated to work an extra 12 hours every pay period to "cover shortfalls" in staffing. YES THIS IS REAL WORLD STUFF my friend. It has happened to me and many others here. And it will again, I am afraid. Esp with new OT laws being passed. Pay attention! It's happening RIGHT NOW !!!!!!

I invite you to take the time to educate yourself thoroughly as to WHAT these nurses are striking FOR------you may BENEFIT after all, from this "callous" and "unprofessional" act. Usually, those who would condemn us who would strike do benefit ------and they do not refuse the bennies earned them by striking nurses, even as they condemn us. It is interesting how that works.

AFTER fully educating yourself, you may STILL believe this is wrong. That is of course, your right. I only ask you really learn what the issues are on the table and read the archives here to see the "pro" and "con" before condemning these striking nurses too quickly. I think that is a fair request! Good luck to you.:kiss