Joy In Striking???

RNPD · Dec 3, 2003

Originally posted byJoe Hill
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.

Absolutely. Having been on strike myself for an extended period of time I can say that this is EXACTLY the mind set you need to be strong yourself, as well as to encourage other union members to remain strong, and stay the course. The only way to get your point across is to stay on strike until an equitable agreement is reached. Notice I did not say until the opposition caves in to all your demands. Because that isn't what a strike is about. It is give and take; there must be compromises on both sides. But in the end, the agreement must be FAIR.

Nurses-and our patients-deserve nothing less.

-jt · Dec 3, 2003

Theyre already on strike. They werent cheering for a strike. They had voted on whether or not to accept a contract that allows themselves to be forced to work mandatory ot. They stood strong and said NO and voted it down. Thats what they were cheering for - that they didnt cave in on their issue but rather all stood together to reject the unacceptable "final offer" from the hospital. They were cheering their committment to each other & their pts. And probably felt a lot like David against Goliath. They have nothing to be ashamed of for taking that stand and staying strongly united in it. They should be cheering over that. We all should be. Theyre heroes. If more nurses were like them, instead of lying down like doormats, this profession wouldnt be in this mess.

No there is no joy in having to be pushed so far as to take a strike just to protect yourself and your patients. Its not fun to see that your employer cares so little for you and your work that they will go to such lengths as forcing you out on the streets. But there is joy in knowing that you are not helpless. It is in the solidarity of your committment to each other and your cause, and in the knowledge that with those, you can, will, and do make a difference.

For those who cant understand what we're saying, may I suggest you see the article "When a Nurse Goes On Strike" at https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=579563&highlight=when+a+nurse+goes+on+strike#post579563

BC512RN · Dec 3, 2003

Good Afternoon,

It saddens me to once again have to see nurses on strike. I too spent many days walking the picket line just two years ago. Each day spent on that line was a walk toward victory. I knew in my compassionate heart of hearts that this was the only way to save the community from a hospital and a system out of control.

Daily mandatory overtime and staffing ratios up to 1:15 were our issues also. I read something in this column that concerned me about some nurses being mandated FROM HOME. That can't be what she meant. There is no basis for mandation. Your home. That has never happened in my hospital. We tell our nurses JUST SAY NO. As difficult as that is for some of us, SAY IT and MEAN IT. You must be afraid to answer your own phone some days. That is criminal.

We developed a simple answer for some of our young mothers to avoid the mandatory issue. Since we have so many single moms on our staff, they just pick up the phone and dial 1-800-CHILDABUSE and report themselves for child neglect. That got them home ASAP. Management called this tactic unprofessional, like Mandatory OT is professional.

Some of your newer nurses are apparently having a difficult time accepting the attitude of the committed strikers. Unfortunately you won't be as ignorant as them for quite some time. The ignorance you speak of comes only with time and experience. Ignorant enough to jeopardize everything to protect their patients, ignorant enough to put the community and its well being before their own. Ignorant enough that many have stepped so far outside their comfort zones they cry themselves to sleep at night afraid of what tomorrow will bring and yet these uncompassionate self serving men and women come back each day to fight for our profession. The nurses of MCP having taken Patient Advocacy to its highest level. I wish such ignorance for all my colleagues.

That cheering and hi fiving was a sign of unity behind the issue of patient safety. That is it - we can't provide safe patient care when we are in our 18th hour, when our kids aren't safe, when our backs are broken and are spirits are shattered. Disrespect, intimidation and threats are the daily diet of Registered Professional nurses in many of our hospitals, who wouldn't see a reason cheer - We are not going to take it any more....no, we can't afford to take it any more.

This nursing shortage is a direct reflection of how bad our working conditions are and if we are to survive as a profession, changes, REAL and LASTING CHANGES must take place and soon. Every time another nurse walks away from the bedside is another day a patients life is put in jeopardy.

The time for talking is long over, action is what is called for now. Thank you MCP nurses for having the courage to truly "WALK THE WALK".

You are not alone. An entire country watches and waits.

In unity and respect,

Barbara Crane RN

NYSNA

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 3, 2003

Beautiful post above!!! thank you barbara!

pickledpepperRN · Dec 3, 2003

Thank you for striking for all of us!

As a nurse, potential patient, and mother in law of a wonderful woman with family in Pennsylvania I offer my heartfelt thanks.

fergus51 · Dec 3, 2003

I think you misunderstood your colleagues. I doubt they were happy that they are striking, they would probably prefer to work somewhere that treats them and their patients with respect. In the absense of that possibility, they are probably happy that their colleagues agree that change has to happen.

XtREmeRN · Dec 4, 2003

once again, the brooding cloud of ignorance many of you have presented never ceases to amaze me. i have apparently incited a frenzy of uninformed and insidious jack----. the thread i posted was not a moral inquery (ie nurses vs. corporate), rather an observation which disheartened me. i am an active member of pna-opeiu local union 112 currently on strike. nrskarenrn, i'm not contesting your mandation argument, even though the majority of other facilities empower their staff members to make their own decisions regarding such matters. when the going gets tough you have absolutely no ground to stand on, however, in regards to my comments on celebrating the vote outcome on monday. think of this analogy, and tell me (dare i ask) what you think: your dear child's life has been taken after being brutally beaten and raped. the perpetrator is arrested, convicted and sentenced to death by lethal injection. you and your spouse decide to attend the execution. the clock strikes midnight as you look towards the chamber. the combination of sodium thiopental, pavulon and potassium chloride are administered and within minutes the man who murdered your daughter is dead. you: a. cheer and dance around like a damn fool, passing out leftover cigars from the strike vote or b. sense closure to a horrific event, knowing that your child's life is irreplaceable.

ediited due to tos violation. pm to member. karen

cannoli · Dec 4, 2003

What analogy are you trying to make?, I don't see any similarity between a strike vote and an execution, or between a strike vote and a child being murdered.

You certainly know how to be rude and insulting.

As far as the remarks you've made, maybe you need to look in a mirror, what's that old expression?, it takes one to know one.

obgrn · Dec 4, 2003

"As a relatively new RN, it is unfortunate to see such a lack of compassion and the ignorance displayed."

Do not be discouraged "relatively new nurse" Your role models are few and far between but they are there!

It is always unfortunate when nurses feel the need to unionize and then strike. Political activism is every nurse's duty and responsibility. We should advocate for our patients not only at the bedside, but via political activism and coalition building at the local, state and federal levels.

It does not become a concern to many nurses until it affected thempersonally, financially. I ask you, where were the nurses at MCP 6 months ago when many were making over $100,000 /year (with overtime)? They were lulled into complacancy. They were not appealing to their state representatives as the 2nd largest voting block in Pennsylvania to act upon the unsafe patient ratios and the nursing shortage. It was not until it directly affected their pocketbooks did activism become a reality. The nurses have very valid concerns, and inherently their hearts are in the right places however they are approaching this from the wrong angle.

I am also disheartened " XtremeRN" by the lack of professionalism displayed during the whole strike debacle, it has only further debased the image of nursing as a vocation. Please do not lose your idealism. Use your intelligence and eloquence to advocate for our patients and our vocation long after your strike is settled.

I appeal to those nurses on strike to remember your responsibility to stay politically active long after you return to work. It is the only way we will succeed in making hospitals safe places for our patients. I appeal to you to elevate the image of our profession/vocation and to mentor the young people who may be considering a career in nursing.

allnurses Guide · Dec 4, 2003

Hey, can someone please post a link or something to this story because I have NO CLUE what the heck y'all are arguing about.

Thank you.

steph:D

SnowymtnRN · Dec 4, 2003

Well while it may be wrong in your opinion for the strikers to "cheer" for whatever reason, when you've been in this business long enough to understand where they are coming from THEN you can have an opinion on the subject. What you are saying is NO MATTER WHAT because we chose to become nurses that no matter what the situation is, we have to take it. Because we are "good people" and caregivers. Well that's true to an extent, but if you don't look out for #1 then who will? People like you are going to be like doormats and continually get walked on because you are willing to take it. I'm not working as a RN and neither is my DH because we are good citizens. We love what we do, but we have us and our kids to care for, and if it takes striking to get us the things we need and deserve then so be it.

No matter what, even if i don't agree with why nurses strike, i support the NURSE, not anything else. So if they strike, then i'm all for them getting what they need and deserve AND want.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 4, 2003

See the thread re MCP Nurses strike:

https://allnurses.com/t49154.html