Nursing Unions...what are the downsides?

[ohcomeon]

The hospital that I am interested in working at after graduation has a nurse's union. When I happened to mention it to a friend of mine who is currently an RN at a different hospital, she said she would never work where there is a union. She wouldn't really elaborate on why she felt unions were bad and I really can't see too many negatives myself. What are your opinions on unionized hospitals?

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

Rewards are by seniority, not merit.

Dues.

Protection of bad employees.

[Chico David, BSN, RN]

I'm strongly pro-union so take this with that in mind. Most Americans today have experienced a life time of anti-union propaganda, so many people have negative opinions but don't really know why. It's clearly true that some unions are better than others. I'm a fan of nurse-run unions for nurses.

When people ask what the negative is my best answer is that to make a union work, the members have to get involved. If everyone just sits back the union won't be successful or serve you well.

[Up2nogood RN, RN]

If you research who has gotten significant raises in this economy you will find it's mostly union nurses. Who has had pay cuts and lay offs? Non union facilities.

[caliotter3]

A union is composed of people with all the strengths and weaknesses of people. Just because they speak of fairness toward all, does not mean that fairness exists. There is a sense of politics and its negatives all connected to the union and the people in the union who wield power. Instead of having one political "system" to deal with, the employee has two.

[want2banurse35]

While I am not a nurse at my last job we did have a union and thank goodnesses we did because the Texas-based company was breaking all kinds of California laws and we were powerless to stop them until we voted in the union. I do agree there are bad ones and good ones.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't work at a place that wasn't protected by a union.

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

I have 3 thoughts on the topic. IMHO:

In principal, I think unions have their place, and nursing sorely needs to be united and better represented which only a union seems able. Professional nursing organizations have failed miserably in this way.

Unionization seems to create a game between unions and management. For every action there's a counter action.

I worked in a non nursing union for several years. I got called on the carpet by the union because I was making my job look too easy, and therefore making other (dues paying) union members look bad. Seemed like mediocrity was favored.

[UnionRN2]

Downside: 1. dues 2. politics 3. seniority rules which are unfair to the lower senior people

Upside: 1. Better staff/patient ratios 2. Higher wages 3. better benefits 4. administration can't just make stupid and arbitrary rules that jeopardize patient care and safety 5. defined pension plans 6. NLRB rules

Of course I am a strong union supporter!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

union dues is one downside -- other than that, i see mostly positives.

and for those who mentioned getting vacations, etc. by seniority -- you may not like it if you're low senior, but at least it's fair. it's measurable and it's objective. everyone knows what the decisions are based on, so the manager cannot arbitrarily give summer vacation to her friends and make someone else take theirs in march.

i had a much better salary when i was working for a union hospital, and the working conditions were better as well.

[Chico David, BSN, RN]

Downside: 1. dues 2. politics 3. seniority rules which are unfair to the lower senior people

Upside: 1. Better staff/patient ratios 2. Higher wages 3. better benefits 4. administration can't just make stupid and arbitrary rules that jeopardize patient care and safety 5. defined pension plans 6. NLRB rules

Of course I am a strong union supporter!

I'll just mention that the role of seniority varies a lot from contract to contract. In my union, many of our older contracts are very seniority heavy. The longest serving nurses get preference on everything. whether that's fair or not depends on where you are looking from. But many of our newer contracts, seniority plays much less of a role. Things like holidays, call-off, etc tend to be rotated and shared more evenly among nurses. I tend to favor a balance, where seniority plays a part, but not an overwhelming part.

[Davey Do]

Rewards are by seniority, not merit.

Dues.

Protection of bad employees.

I quoted SummitAP because I could not put it any better. However, I would like to expand upon the basic concept:

Unions take the power from the Individual and, in an attempt to make things fair across the board, make all abide by the guidelines that are established through a compromised process.

I have worked with both Union and Non-Union Hospitals. I have been able to deal directly with Administrators in both punitive and advancement issues with and without a Union Representative. I have been able to rectify situations, or advance in positions much more efficaciously without the Union involvement.

I have been terminated from jobs in a Non-Union workplace. That's okay. Our relationship was not symbiotic. I would not adhere to their tenets and they didn't appreciate my work ethic.

I have also advanced in positions in Non-Union workplaces. I could not have done so, had a Union been involved. Someone with more seniority and less experience or know-how would have gotten the position. But I was willing to do what it took; I have put my expertise to the test, worked unsavory jobs and hours, in order to advance.

Unionize if you wish. I would rather fly or fall on my own merit.

Thank you for allowing me my say.

Dave