Permanent replacement workers during strike

Chin up · May 26, 2011

They are just what they are called, permanent and why you can collect unemployment. Your job has been taken, for the duration of the replacements contract. Some take the job for a number of weeks, months or years. These scabs, end up with more bennies than you and the "at will" no longer applies. Of course you can be called back at a later date, but will not have the same job, you had before and there is little you can do about it,unless you have a union with teeth, not weak. Good luck. Keep us informed. When you know more, call other unions to back you and give support. Peace!

FancypantsRN · May 26, 2011

I don't think travelers would be considered permanent - they sign a contract through an agency for "x" amount of days/weeks to fill a slot. It is usually not done through the facility itself, from what I have seen. I may stand corrected but this is my understanding.

If the hospital hires permanent full time employees, that is a different matter - I would def talk to my union rep about this.

Simply Complicated · May 27, 2011

They are just what they are called, permanent and why you can collect unemployment. Your job has been taken, for the duration of the replacements contract. Some take the job for a number of weeks, months or years. These scabs, end up with more bennies than you and the "at will" no longer applies. Of course you can be called back at a later date, but will not have the same job, you had before and there is little you can do about it,unless you have a union with teeth, not weak. Good luck. Keep us informed. When you know more, call other unions to back you and give support. Peace!

That was what I thought. There are others that were saying that if the hospital brought in out of state workers we were eligible. But per an update the union put out, it said only if the permanent replacements were brought in. Well, our union is not weak, which is why we may end up striking. They are really fighting for us, and are not willing to roll over. Hopefully it does not come to a strike, but we are down to the last week of negotiations, and it is starting to look like a big possibility. Thanks!

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · May 27, 2011

If "permanent replacements" were brought in, then you have no job and eligible for unemployment. Get the info in writing and apply for unemployment and see what the state says.

tokmom, BSN, RN · May 27, 2011

I doubt the travelers would be permanent. That's why they travel.

We almost had a strike this last March, after negotiating for over a year. We came down to less than 48 hrs. Management called an emergency meeting. We started at 12:30 pm and settled at 1 am I was so tired but relieved we avoided a strike.. Once they caught wind there was going to be news media at their front door, they backed off quickly. So, don't give up hope yet. I really thought we were going to strike. They probably are waiting to see who blinks first!

Anyway, our management had scabs pulled in from our sister hospitals and most were management. You can imagine how excited they were to be working on the floor. I do believe there was relief on both sides. We would have walked back into our jobs afterwards. No job changing. I don't know if the union would allow that.

Simply Complicated · May 30, 2011

I doubt the travelers would be permanent. That's why they travel.
We almost had a strike this last March, after negotiating for over a year. We came down to less than 48 hrs. Management called an emergency meeting. We started at 12:30 pm and settled at 1 am I was so tired but relieved we avoided a strike.. Once they caught wind there was going to be news media at their front door, they backed off quickly. So, don't give up hope yet. I really thought we were going to strike. They probably are waiting to see who blinks first!
Anyway, our management had scabs pulled in from our sister hospitals and most were management. You can imagine how excited they were to be working on the floor. I do believe there was relief on both sides. We would have walked back into our jobs afterwards. No job changing. I don't know if the union would allow that.

Thanks! I think there will already be media, because we have an informational picket coming up. So I'm sure it's going to be on the news. So fingers crossed.