The California Nurses Association is again attempting to organize Western Medical Center Santa Ana, California apparently using the Tenet/CNA Neutrality Agreement that has already been deemed unlawful assistance to the union and in violation of employee rights by the NLRB.
The Neutrality Agreement gags our management and administration from discussing their views on unionizing or educating the Nursing staff on their employee rights. It also limits how nurses opposed to unionizing can have their voice be heard. The California Nurses Association is free to to say and promise whatever they want.
While the current owners of Western Medical Center were not party to the back door deal with Tenet and the CNA, they were stuck with successorship language in the CNA contract.
I have filed a class action suit against both the CNA and the administration of Western Medical Center hoping to have the contract ruled illegal. While this will not prevent the union from attempting to organize, it will allow a more level playing field if there is such a thing when dealing with a labor union.
I don't agree with all that CNA does and perhaps they are being a little shady in this particular case. But for me, there are far worse things happening in our country and world right now to get all riled up about. I'm happy with my ratios/work rules/fair compensation. I admire Sherwood and those others on this board that I have read be so passionately anti- union. More power to 'em. I always admire anyone willing to do this job for the horrendous and insulting wages many nurses receive. (Seriously, my co-workers in the south, god bless ya--I couldn't walk a mile in your shoes) But to not only do it but fight for it! You go, Sherwood!
I truly encourage all to fight for their right NOT to organize----meanwhile I'll be by the pool......]
i don't think we have mandated staffing for med/surg but we do for icu, 1:2 nurse/patient, and i know these numbers are applied where i work in pacu for all patients. if i felt abused or neglected at work i'd be happy to consider a union. i have great managers who treat us fairly and with respect. i just can't see repaying great managers by voting in a union. sure, a union might be able to get me a few extra bucks. if i wanted to chase dollars though i'd go to med school or move to california.
the last traveler who visited our med-surg unit, reported that they drove from arizona to take a california assignment because the ratios were higher than ours. that was when our ratio was 6 patients per 1 nurse. it has been so long ago that i don't remember what the med surg ratios were in arizona at that time.
if you choose to chase dollars by moving to california, please be aware of the futility of that pursuit. i am greatful that i live here; however, it is a little expensive.
oh well, the beach was free and just right for the boys and i.
It is even against the law for management to promise employees a raise if they vote against the union!
If that's true, I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. As I previously mentioned, the RT's at a hospital in my area were promised a raise if they voted against the union, and they did vote against the union but ... the hospital renigged on their promise.
Unless they guarantee those raises in writing ... maybe those promises shouldn't be made.
Recently while I was passing out my information to nurses as they entered and exited to hospital, CNA organizers were chanting and implying that nurses at my hospital were underpaid and it was MY FAULT! That's harrassment and it's not true!Western Medical Center Nurses voted against the CNA two years ago. I have also done a salary survey in my area and we are competative with all hospitals.
C'mon Sherwood. I hear the word "competitive" all the time from hospitals that don't pay very well. To me, at least, "competitive" is just another word for mediocre wages. Even by your own anti-union website's account ... CNA wages are better.
It's a fact that union RN's make $6,000 more on average than non-union RN's nationwide. Since you've been fighting CNA, I would not be surprized if that's meant lower wages at your facility.
CNA just got another raise for RN's in my area ... 16 percent over two years. At 8 percent per year, that's double the standard 3-4 percent per year you get at non-union hospitals.
In my area, non-union shops definitely pay a lot less than union shops. My guess is that if the pay at your facility was so great ... CNA wouldn't have a second bite at the apple two years later.
The last traveler who visited our med-surg unit, reported that they drove from Arizona to take a California assignment because the ratios were higher than ours.
I too have heard that from two Arizona travelers, both of whom said they wouldn't go back because of high ratios.
It's interesting ... according to the U.S. Health Department 17 percent of licensed RN's nationwide aren't working.
But in California ... only 5 percent of our RN's aren't working. I think our ratio law has a lot to do with that.
gentle
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:yeahthat: and at the beach with my kids.