Pressure to join union

[holdensjane]

I am a new nurse and have been getting pressure from other nurses to join the union. They're targeting the newbies as they have told us repeatedly. Personally, I don't really know where I stand with the union and am not ready to make a decision yet. I still need to find out how the union works in relationship with my hospital i.e contract and all and i feel like right now I don't have time to do that. I just want to focus on my orientation since i'm a new grad. We have a union steward that handed out apps to each of the newbies. If I chose to wait, is there any way for my co-workers to find out that I'm not part of the union yet? I"m not the only orientee who feels this way. how does it work, is there a list of whose in the union or not? will the steward for our shift know?

[offlimits]

TAZZI what on earth has happened to you? You are a strong individual that can speak for yourself.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

I think there's nothing wrong in researching the union at your place-most have paperwork that you can look at and make a decision.

Unions are by no means perfect, but IMO, they go to bat for you when things are bad(provided it's a strong one). I find that the bigger hospitals can have a very strong corporate mentality, and there are managers that will screw you over in a heartbeat. If I have any issues or concerns, I'm able to go to one of the union reps and they'll look into it. in my state, the union had a very strong part in the passage of a law that bans mandatory overtime-the governor had vetoed it but the union and it's members got that veto overturned.

You'll win no brownie points from management either, for not joining the union. As for how much they take out of your check, it's really not much. I spend more than that on coffee each week.

At any rate, it's your decision. And to the person that implied only weaklings join a union-this is exactly what unscrupulous managers and administrations want nurses to do-they have a divide and conquer strategy, and comments such as that play right into it.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

that is their major way of getting anything done -force. Yet, they claim they are doing it defensively - as if force ever made a difference in how people feel. Anyway, make up your own mind and if you are not comfortable go to HR. Harrassement of any kind should not be condoned.