would you cross a picket line????

Nurses Activism

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Yesterday one of my nursing coworkers told me about some strike in OHIO and that she was going to take a travel assignment to that area..... I am totally happy where I am, but I was kinda wondering what that atmosphere would be like...I feel that everyone deserves healthcare and can understand her position that she goes where the money is but, crossing a picket line???? I just do not think I could do it. Obviously those nurses are in extreme duress to have to strike.....So, what do you all think could you cross a picket line????? I do not think I could.

Mattster, I think what the Union in California is doing is fabulous! I can only hope it does spread around the country. I take issue with suits like where I work saying in the local media that nurses can make 6 figure salaries and leaves out that that is for CRNA's or for nurses who work 6 12's a week which is simply unsafe! I think the ratios are wonderful and I hop that the stories about them being watered down "due to the shortage" are untrue. I think all bedisde nurses should amke a minimum of 100,000 per year. Cut down on the salaries and perks of the suits and streamline the administrative positions like they ahve done to hospital staff positions and you have the money to do it.

$99,000 a year is $51.56 per hour based on a (no way in hail) 40 work week.

The article in question did not state if the "up to $47/hr" was for an RN across the board or just in say ICU or what.

An RN in this scenario would have to be currently at $39/hr + in order for a 19% raise over however many years to approach $47/hr!

So to say that these figures represent an "average",when sooo much of the story is missing,is........................patronizing!

Did you get that?

I want to be clear.

I don't live in frigging California,I'm not a nurse from California,I didn't read the CNA story and I've heard enough suits promise to make nurses some kind of celebrity with a loophole in it that strangles morale like a hangman's noose when assumptions are made!!

Good for the California nurses(that were smart enough to join a union) and the apparent increase but what I have read contradicts itself.

and that, I have seen before.

Did you notice that the numbers you quoted elaborated even more than the article I was commenting on and still didn't turn the Trojan horse into a fruit basket?

Next headline reads:"LPN hires on the rise at California hospitals"

Just kidding.

Ok, so all that grandstanding aside,I know that the new contract is an improvement,but how much of what that statement says applies to the entire picture? You have to admit that it's mighty difficult to go from wherever nurses are across the board in pay to $51.56/hr and just take it for gospel........................right?

Whats wrong with RNs earning "6 figures"?? We already have $100,000/yr RNs in NYC. Our starting salaries for ADN New Grads in New York State Nurses Assoc union hospitals begin at $60,000/yr plus. And we are paid additionally for degrees, specialty certifications, and every year of RN experience. In NYC, experineced staff RNs here & in some of our suburbs are making $100,000/yr in some places & close to it in many others & thats without overtime. Is shouldnt be hard to believe that bedside nurses can & should be earning at least that much in straight salary. But then you have nurses in the Heartland saying but "Im happy with my $16/hr salary - cost of living isnt so bad here." Well it is here, so we'll keep the $100,000 thank you. ;)

Note that on the East & West Coasts, its Unionized RNs who are making the $100,000/yr.

hint hint.

Mattster, I have no idea what youre talking about when you mention me as "a cynic shooting down good news". lol. You must have my posts confused with someone elses. Although I hold a California RN license & work in the UC system every year, I did not make one reference to salaries in California or that news article - except to support the $100,000 RN. Nor did I make one derogatory comment about nurses in that state, their unions, or their struggle. So I dont know what you could be referring to by labeling me with that title. My posts in this thread have been explaining about strikes in general, about unionized nurses who do what they have to do when pushed to the wall, & the improvements they gain when they do.

Maybe you mistake me for some other 'cynic'. ;)

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

Would I cross a picket line? I said it once on here...and for the record...I say it twice! :nono: :nono: :)

Nurses Assoc union hospitals begin at $60,000/yr plus. And we are paid additionally

They better get that in New York or they'll be staying at the YMCA and eating government cheese:chuckle

I think 100K a year is entirely possible.

And that's the first step towards earning it.

And I'm going to.

And when I do I know I'll be in a union.

I think it's about time nurse's did earn six figure salaries without having to work 6-7 twelve hour shifts a week and be recognized for our degrees and certifications. We worked hard for both and deserve the recognition. People say that whatever happens in California eventually makes it across the country. Well, this is one time that I hope it comes quickly, and the hospitals that will get it first will be the unionized ones. :D :cool:

never happen. not when we have so many nurses in so many places making excuses for their low salaries. Ive lost count of the number of times Ive read posts from RNs who say "Im happy with my $16/hr salary. Its enough for me because the cost of living is not so bad in my city." One RN even wrote once that she earns $11/hr in a rural hospital & that was fine for her cause she worked a strike or 2 per year & made up the difference that way.

How unbelievably self-defeating.

Not only is it unbelievably self-defeating, it's also unbelievablly sad that some nurses still feel that way. I'm sure that the hospitals are happy about it though. :o

Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

I wouldn't cross another facilities' picket line. It wouldn't be my fight or my place to do so or to interfere with what other nurses obviously felt was important.

I've never been in the position of being faced with it at my own workplace, and that's what it would take to decide for me. I would have to know the particular circumstances. Obviously, the vast likelihood is that it would be over something very important and worth joining the cause, but I wouldn't say "never" blindly without knowing the particulars.

My sister (not a nurse nor working in health care) went in to work on a union-declared "sickout" day because she had some deep philosophical differences with the union. She took a lot of abuse but stood tall and has come through it. I admire her for standing up for her principles.

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Howdy yall

from deep in the heart of texas

Now if my facility was unionized and the union called for a strike. I wouldnt cross that line. However elsewhere, other facilities and strikes. For the right kind of money I will freely admit that I would cross that line in a heartbeat, It isnt about not supporting brethren nurses. Its strictly about big bucks. I know of some strike breaking nurse who were getting up to 10,000 dollars a week to work, with contracts lasting up to 6 weeks guaranteed. For that kind of money I might even be tempted to vote for george bush. No it would take more than that.

Specializes in inpatient hospice house.

Wouldn't cross a picket line for anything.

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