Joy In Striking???

Published

Hello everyone. 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. Where is the victory? These people malign a profession which should be entrenched with empathy and care. As a PNA member, I am deeply offended and humiliated. Not only are several of our own out of work during the holidays, we are also inadvertently causing layoffs and compromising work hours for other employees? Should we be high-fiving each other and rejoicing? You all ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

originally posted by obgrn

_______________________________________

Space Nurse,

Thank you - it's amazing the change we are capable of when we work together with a patient focus! _______________________________________

obgrn-are you aware that CNA is the California Nurses Association and it is a powerful union, affiliated with the ANA and also with the AFL-CIO?

YES, it is AMAZING what nurses can do when they work together as a UNION!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Originally posted by teeituptom

___________________________________________

To say that striking nurses are out for better patient care issues, is incorrect. Patient care issues are the first issues dropped in negotiations, the bottom line is MONEY. Always has been and always will be.

____________________________________________

The above statement is quite incorrect. The bottom line is not always money-in fact with many negotiations, money isn't even among the most important issues. I can, in fact, show you numerous instances where nurses fought to the end for patient care issues only; in fact there were recent negotiations in NY where the nurses actually counteroffered with LOWER raises than were offered by the hospital, in order that patient care issues be addressed.

It is always important to educate yourself before making statements that are incorrect.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by RNPD

originally posted by obgrn

_______________________________________

Space Nurse,

Thank you - it's amazing the change we are capable of when we work together with a patient focus! _______________________________________

obgrn-are you aware that CNA is the California Nurses Association and it is a powerful union, affiliated with the ANA and also with the AFL-CIO?

YES, it is AMAZING what nurses can do when they work together as a UNION!!!

I am all for coalition building, I am none too fond of unions!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Not sure what you mean by "coalition building" but it was a nurses' UNION that accomplished all that Space Nurse listed in her post!

Please check out the ANA website and follow the link for UAN-the labor arm (and union) of the ANA.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by RNPD

Not sure what you mean by "coalition building" but it was a nurses' UNION that accomplished all that Space Nurse listed in her post!

Please check out the ANA website and follow the link for UAN-the labor arm (and union) of the ANA.

You are not entirely correct, the ANA is not a Union, nor is CNA. Just as PNA is NOT a union and in fact they are of late disengaging themselves form union activities

Up Vote Up Vote ×

obgrn you did not answer the question

"You are correct that it is hard work, and our nurses here in Philly are doing quite a bit better financially than you all in Wyoming. We have new grads making 72-78,000/year."

Please tell us! Like I said before I am not a new grad and I have never made close to this amount. I am a full time employee here in Philly!?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Actually CNA is unique among state nurses associations in that we are independant. We do have good relationships with other RN and other unions that represent hospital workers.

I suspect the nurses quoted would have had neither the education nor support to achieve what they did. A contract with a requirement for "just cause" discipline as well as the "Whistle Blower" law sponsored by the CNA protect the nurse from retaliation by management.

Also the committee protects activist nurses because it is many not just one.

You are correct in that collective action is the key.

I have seen the down side to unions too.

On a registry shift a union transporter and LVN refused to help me put a patient in bed from the cart after going for an X-Ray. They told me they would call the shop steward if I insisted. I told the supervisor who seemed to take the path of least resistance and helped me herself.

Too bad. Embarrasing that a licensed LVN and fellow nurse was so uncaring. Thankfully that is rare.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm not sure I understand. Was the union transporter also an LVN-that is, was it one person or two? In the role of transporter, the LVN only had to transport the patients, not assist with transferring them back to bed? If that is so it is sad.

To obgrn, I didn't mean that the ANA is a union. It is the American Nurses Association and although it is a "union" of nurses it does not engage in collective bargaining as the ANA. The labor arm, or collective bargaining unit, of the ANA is UAN-United American Nurses. UAN is made up of individual state nurses associations such as NYSNA that engage in collective bargaining and act for all intents and purposes as a union.

I was unaware that CNA had opted out of UAN. Thanks for that info spacenurse. Yet the fact remains, that independent or not, if CNA engages in collective bargaining it is therefore a nurses union. Unless I am mistaken and CNA does not engage in collective bargaining. Please clarify this for me.

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

RNPD:

The transporter worked for the radiology department. He brought the patient back SOB with a Hx of CHF on a cart that was flat. He refused put the cart in the hallway and folded his arms. When I asked for help getting the patient back into the bed he said, "That is not in my job description. If you report me I will call my shop steward."

The LVN was playing solitaire on the computer. She told me, "Not my patient. I can get my steward to represent my because I'm not required to help unless it is my patient."

Clearly there was a big problem on that unit. It was two different people. As registry my response was to give the best care that evening and refuse to go back again.

YES, CNA is a union. Has been for almost 50 of its hundred years!

The UAN unions to my knowledge acheive much good for patients and nurses also. Some states are excellent from what I read.

There was a study that showed patients have shorter length of stay and less complications at union hospitals. It was posted on the BB a couple years ago.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thanks for the clarification, spacenurse. I applaud all of the excellent work that CNA and other SNAs are doing.

That transporter and especially that LVN should be ashamed. I truly have never run into that situation while working in healthcare, although I do know personally of such stories involving union members in other professions. That LVN especially is a disgrace. The transporter is probably an uneducated, low level worker-but the LVN is licensed and presumably more intelligent than that.

What a shame to use their unions for their own selfish reasons, instead of to better conditions for themselves, their colleagues, and their patients. Unions are only as strong as their weakest members-and those members certainly leave a lot to be desired!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by obgrn

You are not entirely correct, the ANA is not a Union, nor is CNA. Just as PNA is NOT a union and in fact they are of late disengaging themselves form union activities

Oops! ????????????????????????????????????????????????

First I think many of us are interested in knowing where nurses earn these $alarie$

RNangelER: "obgrn you did not answer the question "

Quote- obgrn:"You are correct that it is hard work, and our nurses here in Philly are doing quite a bit better financially than you all in Wyoming. We have new grads making 72-78,000/year."

"Please tell us! Like I said before I am not a new grad and I have never made close to this amount. I am a full time employee here in Philly!?" RNangelER.

------------------------------------------

Also, CNA is a union:

http://cna.igc.org/cna101/

http://cna.igc.org/cna101/profassoc.htm

Professional Association and RN Union

CNA is an independent nurses organization with a proud history. It is governed by a 29-member elected Board of Directors, all of whom are direct care Registered Nurses. CNA represents 50,000 RNs in 150 facilities across California.

Nursing Practice

Nursing Practice provides continuing education programs, and monitors professional practice issues and trends affecting bedside RNs. The department provides training and is a resource to the CNA contract mandated Professional Practice Committees (PPC) in each facility to ensure that nursing practice laws and regulations are observed.

Government Relations

Government Relations oversees legislative issues affecting RN licensure, practice, staffing, etc. There are legislative specialists and RN lobbyists in Sacramento.

Collective Bargaining

Collective bargaining provides the legal authority and power to engage in patient advocacy actions on a collective basis with a unified RN voice. CNA labor representatives assist nurses working under CNA collective bargaining contracts, working closely with the Nurse Representatives and CNA committees in the facility on contract negotiations and compliance.

Organizing

In 2001-2002 alone, over 7,200 RNs in 17 hospitals successfully organized with CNA. CNA membership has doubled in seven years.

Record numbers of RNs are organizing due to the lowering of patient care standards and not having a voice in decisions affecting their practice and their patients. The more nurses who are represented by CNA, the more effectively we can fight to improve patient care standards.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Originally posted by obgrn

"Well said. Its amazing the "new nurses" who think everyone else is a mean bully out to screw them."

Dawn,

It is not just a perception, you would be amazed the at the shabby way some nurses treat students and new grads. It's shameful!

We have more power than perceived in shaping new nurses, we forget that they have the plasticity to change and grow under our good influences.

You would also be amazed at how poorly new grads/students treat vetaran nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion