Nurses crossing picket lines??

Wish her luck and hopefully she works safely. I can't be impartial here. I strongly disagree w/scabbing, but it's her decision and legal right to do so. The money will be EARNED, believe me.

I have never heard of scab nurses being attacked. I would hope her own ethics would guide her decision in this matter. I would be more worried about the environment INSIDE the hospital (there has to be a reason staff nurses would take the drastic action of striking and I don't think it's safe to work with a large number of agency nurses who are unfamiliar with the hospital).

i think your friend's personal safety will be fine. but it would be even more helpful if she supported her colleagues and didn't cross the line.

I think scabs (those who will cross picket lines for their own rea$on$) are beneath contempt.

However, doing this is your friend's right, and no one should have to worry about violence being used against them if they are not breaking the law.

i think your friend's personal safety will be fine. but it would be even more helpful if she supported her colleagues and didn't cross the line.

You said it!

Randall, you say that busdrivers, nurses, etc "harm the very people they serve" when they strike.

But if they feel thay are being mistreated by an employer, should nurses become martyrs, thereby harming themselves to avoid upsetting people w/ a strike?

Since you were helping the hospital out of a jam that they helped create, they may have treated you very differently than they treated regular staff.

I know when I've done "fill in" work for other nurses, I have not been given the missing nurse's entire workload. For example, I've not been expected to fill out monthly summaries, and reports, serve on committees, or attend multiple meetings, whereas regular staff did have these extra things piled on them.

People who are being treated well don't display the anger that you desribed. Most people who are that pi$$ed off have a REASON.

You come off as very macho, smug, and arrogant in your reply.

I know that somebody has to cross the picket lines when nurses strike, if only for the pts. But- it ain't gonna be me.

is this an example of divide and conquer?????? hmmmm, let's just add another notch in our nsg. belt of achievements. :stone

I was amazed that nurses would act like blue collar workers, screaming and hollering and running along side our bus taking pictures.

Wow coming from a family of blue collared workers, I'm extremely offended. Get off your high horse. Being a "professional" doesn't make you better then anyone else. Blue collared workers aren't ignorant people, they just picked a different profession and thank god someone did because we need our plumbers and electricians and garbage men. They work hard and they deserve good working conditions just as nurses do, and I don't see how picketing for better working conditions is a bad thing. Sometimes it is the only way to get administrators to listen.

I agree Hellllllo Nurse, when I have worked as a traveler (I will NOT cross a nurses' picket line) I have almost always been paid as well or better than the staff and did not have to put up with ANY of the crap from management. No mandatory OT, no committee work, no career ladder, no begging for a raise, no vacation requests refused, no inservices in the middle of my sleeping time or on an off-day. And the regular staff typically did not receive the gratitude I received just for being there. When they worked OT, it was expected and usually mandatory...when I did it, it was an option - I was well-compensated to do so and the staff was overjoyed to have the help.

Scr*wing over our own is not going to get us where we want to be.

I agree Hellllllo Nurse, when I have worked as a traveler (I will NOT cross a nurses' picket line) I have almost always been paid as well or better than the staff and did not have to put up with ANY of the crap from management. No mandatory OT, no committee work, no career ladder, no begging for a raise, no vacation requests refused, no inservices in the middle of my sleeping time or on an off-day. And the regular staff typically did not receive the gratitude I received just for being there. When they worked OT, it was expected and usually mandatory...when I did it, it was an option - I was well-compensated to do so and the staff was overjoyed to have the help.

Scr*wing over our own is not going to get us where we want to be.

Well said, RN4NICU. Thumbs up!

I And you ask why companies are moving offshore?

Hmmmm, let's see...

1. Few if any, enforcable child labor laws.

2.Disenfranchised, poverty stricken workers who do not have the power or resources to demand fair wages, hours, and working condtions, but no doubt would if they could.

3. Being able to legally pollute the environment of other nations with abandon, without objection by people who are so economically depressed and oppressed by their governments that they have no means or right to say anything about it.

4. No minimum wage laws.

5. No regulatory or oversight organizations, just to name a few.

You made a point by striking; now get back to work because it will take you years to repair the damage (if ever) and to get the money back you lost!

Most nurses who strike do not do so for higher wages- they do it because of manditory overtime, poor working conditions, too many pts per nurse, abd poor treatment by mgmt.