When I was a tech in the hospital I work at currently, the nurses were voting to keep the union or not. They voted to keep it. Now years later I looked into how to do that vote. I would need 30% of all nurses to sign to put a vote against the union. So I asked about 25 nurses and only 2 wanted to sign after they had their questions answered. Some had strong feelings to keep the union and said they'd quit working here if the union was voted out. I concluded I wouldn't get 30% and I gave up asking. I did ask where all our union money goes to and was told by a union rep I could not get that information.
a week after I stopped asking and talking about the union, I was confronted by a union rep. I was told that she would push to have me be expelled from the union, and therefore fired from my job since to work here you have to be a union member. I was told I violated the unions constitution by being anti union. She said they've done it before to another nurse and that nurse begged them to help her get her job back and that they did.
regardless of your feelings on unions, I hadn't meant any violation. I just didn't want to pay the 2k dues every year and wondered if anyone else was the same. We have other hospitals in our system that aren't union and they're paid more than us and don't seem to have issues so I just wanted to see.
but now I'm in fear of being fired. What can I do? The union rep pushed me to talk to the union to president but I'm afraid to now. I guess I thought more people wouldn't want the union. but didn't expect I could be fired from my job for asking.
what should I do? Please
Don't know how to avoid expulsion, but how about working with the union to get what you want?
I understand that if it is a big union representing many facilities it is hard, but who is your rep? Have to talked to him/her about what would make your facility better?
I was "lucky" that at the facility I wanted to work at, the nurses had organized their own union, independent from big state or national unions and was very responsive to members.
Of course the union had a lot to do with why I loved working there.
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
You made an excellent point, the union hospital pays better than the non union hospital.
I'm in NZ. We just had a massive win for pay equity, stop paying nurses less because its perceieved as a womans job,
We get a decent hourly rate, afternoon and nigh differentials. 1 1/2 times at weekends, double time + lieu day on public holidays. IMO the only reason we get these conditions is because of a nationwide meca that covers all nurses.
If we vote to strike its nationally which puts some massive pressure on.
Also who ever told you that you have no right to know how your dues are spent is IMO full of it +2k fees is mental. We pay $560 for the year
You made an excellent point, the union hospital pays better than the non union hospital.
I'm in NZ. We just had a massive win for pay equity, stop paying nurses less because its perceieved as a womans job,
We get a decent hourly rate, afternoon and nigh differentials. 1 1/2 times at weekends, double time + lieu day on public holidays. IMO the only reason we get these conditions is because of a nationwide meca that covers all nurses.
If we vote to strike its nationally which puts some massive pressure on.
Also who ever told you that you have no right to know how your dues are spent is IMO full of it +2k fees is mental. We pay $560 for the year
I don't care what state you're in or if you're private or public service. Overall, nurses fight for union representation. Respect it, apologize, and find another job if you don't like it (but I guarantee it will not be the same).
When I was a tech in the hospital I work at currently, the nurses were voting to keep the union or not. They voted to keep it. Now years later I looked into how to do that vote. I would need 30% of all nurses to sign to put a vote against the union. So I asked about 25 nurses and only 2 wanted to sign after they had their questions answered. Some had strong feelings to keep the union and said they'd quit working here if the union was voted out. I concluded I wouldn't get 30% and I gave up asking. I did ask where all our union money goes to and was told by a union rep I could not get that information.
a week after I stopped asking and talking about the union, I was confronted by a union rep. I was told that she would push to have me be expelled from the union, and therefore fired from my job since to work here you have to be a union member. I was told I violated the unions constitution by being anti union. She said they've done it before to another nurse and that nurse begged them to help her get her job back and that they did.
regardless of your feelings on unions, I hadn't meant any violation. I just didn't want to pay the 2k dues every year and wondered if anyone else was the same. We have other hospitals in our system that aren't union and they're paid more than us and don't seem to have issues so I just wanted to see.
but now I'm in fear of being fired. What can I do? The union rep pushed me to talk to the union to president but I'm afraid to now. I guess I thought more people wouldn't want the union. but didn't expect I could be fired from my job for asking.
what should I do? Please
At this point, you should probably talk to the President apologize and state your case what is bothering you about being in a union besides the dues. What do you want them to do that they haven't done? What do you want them to prioritize in bargaining? They usually ask the staff these questions before the next contract. As to the money, they should provide financial statements every year, sometimes you have to request them.
I don't know if they have the power to fire you for what you did. All I can say is it wasn't smart! Politically and socially you made enemies. You came across as arrogant. How did you think the union wouldn't find out about it? People talk. Most people like unions. Granted some are better than others.
If you were curious about this I would have asked whoever started the vote the last time. In general in a closed shop you must pay union dues to work at that company. Unless you work in a Right to Work state then you have the option to refuse to pay dues, but would still have to pay a fraction of the dues, and the time to refuse is limited usually around your anniversary hire date.
If you think the other hospitals are better you could choose to work there, but ironically they may be better in pay because of the union. Management will play games like this to make the union look bad and to try to keep the other hospitals in their system from unionizing.
When you have a union, the hospital must provide all their financial information. If you haven't paid attention lately, it has been a hostile working environment for nurses in general and unionized hospitals in particular! The difference is with a union you can fight for better pay and conditions, but even so, there is no guarantee you will win! Sadly, in the end the hospital has the upper hand.
So while I applaud the hard working union nurses that fight for better pay and working conditions for themselves and the patients I don't think it's necessarily good for nurses to stay long term and make a career as a bedside nurse. Personally I don't think it's worth it to your health and to your dignity! I felt so much disrespect from management especially after Descension took over and I'm glad I said enough I quit, I'm done! The union is fighting on, but I feel sorry for those who remain. I think they would be better off to quit too.
So I guess I'm not giving you the answer you want. I've never heard of unions firing anti-union staff before, but if it happens I'm sorry. More importantly I hope you will take it to heart to be careful what you say in the future for your own sake, not just about unions because social politics is a big part of any job, a big part of fitting in and getting along and many people get fired not because they can't do the job but for "unfair" reasons like this.
H G
4 Posts
Don't know how to avoid expulsion, but how about working with the union to get what you want?
I understand that if it is a big union representing many facilities it is hard, but who is your rep? Have to talked to him/her about what would make your facility better?
I was "lucky" that at the facility I wanted to work at, the nurses had organized their own union, independent from big state or national unions and was very responsive to members.
Of course the union had a lot to do with why I loved working there.
Good luck.