Pay raise with the current financial crisis in the US

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Just wanted some thoughts....I work in a small community hospital which is part of a larger health care system. We have a union and negotiated 2 years ago for pay raises over an almost 3 year period by the time we settled our current contract. Our increase came down to an 8% pay raise over a 3 year period of time for nurses at the highest end of the scale, those like myself with 26 years of experience. The rest of the nonunion staff have been told they will not get their annual 3% pay raise due to the current financial crisis. At my particular hospital I vividly remember being part of the negotiations in which administration pretty much told us we were not worth what we were getting paid. Many of us in those negotiations felt we settled for much less than our worth. The hospital never seems to have enough money, but yet once our contract is settled money seems to be flowing pretty well. It is rumored that we will be asked not to take our next pay raise in April, which is 2-3% depending on where you are on the payscale. We negotiated our highest increase at the end of our contract because the hospital felt it was better for their finances. As nurses, would you have the hospital keep up their end of the bargain even though others will not see a raise this year? By the way, nonunion staff have been getting 3% almost every year without having to pay union dues. For many years they have gotten what we have gotten and in a way have benefited from nurses having a union.

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Specializes in LTC/MDS/PPS.

A more realistic look at the situation could be argued that with the ongoing devaluatio0n of the dollar, you should receive a 20% increase to adjust for the Fed cranking out bills like there's no tomorrow. A change some hoped for.

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Specializes in Psych , Peds ,Nicu.

When / if your employer approaches the union , they will check the official financial reports , your employer makes to regulaing authorities . With a complete and accurate understanding of the state of your employer , the union can plan it's course of action .

Recently my employer tried to change the terms of our contract , when both sides , met the ,we knew our employer was profitable , so they were told , no we were not going to accept these cuts .

As to others getting the pay raises you and your union worked for , it's one of those little secrets anti union people like to keep ie. they are willing to get similar rewards to the unionized nurse , without having to do anything , because their employers have to offer similar pay and conditions to keep their staff .

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You know there is a real possibility they are coming to you and asking for give backs simply because everyone else is doing it. There are a lot of healthcare institutions that are taking advantage of the bad news even while they are making money, good money. I hope the union declines to give them back anything. Be prepared to see news stories playing the nurses up as bad guys when the institution goes crying to the papers about how bad things are financially. Like you say, no sooner do you give back then the bulldozers show up breaking ground for the new wing.

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I wouldn't want to give anything back. They are coming to you because you are/we/nurses are easy targets. If they really are in finacial trouble (I wouldn't be so sure) let them negotiate with the insuarance companies for higher reimbursements. Let them go to administration and ask for pay cuts. Be sure that those on top are taking pay cuts before you give anything back willingly. Just like the auto companies, if the actual workers have to give back then everyone should be giving back.

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I would be asking to see the pay of the administrators, and what their raises were. Including bonuses, travel, etc. I'm thinking that could easily make up for a nursing raise.

Our hospital just announced they are laying off 100 people. I would imagine they could lay off one CEO and spare the other 100 and be even at least.

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

We have no union hospitals in our area, we only got 2% this year that is the lowest I have seen over 10 years now. 2% no where near covers how the cost of living has risen. Yet I am happy to have a job. I am happy no nurse in our system has been laid off.

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No unions ALLOWED in our state or raises at our hospital! Just have the thought go through your head and the thought police will get you and fire you. No raises at our hospital in two years, except of course for the umpteen VP's and above. Census is down which means no unit clerks, fewer ancillary staff, longer wait times for our patients call's to be answered as we have 6 patients on a high acuity med/surg floor. Of course the patients complaints are pointed towards the RN's as we can not adjust their air, fluff the blankets, get their family members coffee, plug in their cell phones etc. fast enough. Forget that we are trying to keep them safe, alive and medicated with their dilaudid/hydrocodone q 2 hrs for their lap appys!!!! Sorry for the rant..I am over worked and underpaid and I am jealous of your 2% raise and of the union states, someday, someday!

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Specializes in Psych , Peds ,Nicu.

That day may come soon Survivor08 , if the EFCA gets passed into law . This law will allow employees who wish to unionize to do so by EITHER the present route ,first assess interest by canvassing the facility , then going to a vote ,if enough support , OR by getting more than 50% of those to be represented to complete cards showing desire to be represented .

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I did sign the EFCA petition. I would seriously get fired if I tried talking about this at work.

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Specializes in Critical care, neuroscience, telemetry,.
Just wanted some thoughts....I work in a small community hospital which is part of a larger health care system. We have a union and negotiated 2 years ago for pay raises over an almost 3 year period by the time we settled our current contract. Our increase came down to an 8% pay raise over a 3 year period of time for nurses at the highest end of the scale, those like myself with 26 years of experience. The rest of the nonunion staff have been told they will not get their annual 3% pay raise due to the current financial crisis. At my particular hospital I vividly remember being part of the negotiations in which administration pretty much told us we were not worth what we were getting paid. Many of us in those negotiations felt we settled for much less than our worth. The hospital never seems to have enough money, but yet once our contract is settled money seems to be flowing pretty well. It is rumored that we will be asked not to take our next pay raise in April, which is 2-3% depending on where you are on the payscale. We negotiated our highest increase at the end of our contract because the hospital felt it was better for their finances. As nurses, would you have the hospital keep up their end of the bargain even though others will not see a raise this year? By the way, nonunion staff have been getting 3% almost every year without having to pay union dues. For many years they have gotten what we have gotten and in a way have benefited from nurses having a union.

Not to seem mean, but I would definitely hold them to their end of the bargain. Hey, you waited for the bulk of it to be paid because the hospital said it would be better for them. You stuck to your end of the deal, and now it's time for them to stick to theirs.

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