Mrs. B - I like your idea. I have been a school nurse for 15 years and am in the teacher's union (NYSUT). I do not feel that the union looks to advance the nurses causes. I admit that we do have some job security but not tenure (since we are considered RN's only, not teachers) and we are not in the Teacher's retirement system either. We are in NYS retirement system. We pay the same dues as the teachers (over $500 a yr.) and are not paid the same. A techer that started the same time as I did makes close to $90,000!! I make just over half of that. Plus, the nurses are among the only group of employees that don't get longevity pay. So, in the long run the teachers benefit from our dues but we get very little in return. The CSEA union workers get better treatment from the district.