dianacl

Did you contact a union? Are you getting answers and help? Please let us know the outcome of your situation. I think you got lots of good suggestions here and it would be nice to hear a positive end result. Hopefully you won't run into any other unions claiming to be "too busy" to help workers. Keep us posted and good luck!

I never heard of a union being "to busy" to help workers. If this is the response you recieved when you asked for help then you are right to look elsewhere. You can start with your State Nurse Association. Also check with nurses you work with along with friends that are in unions in your area. Many of the larger unions have healthcare and nurses as members. You can go to the AFL-CIO web site to get a list of unions and contact information.

Nurses, healthcare professionals and hospital workers at Ressurection hospital in Chicago have been fighting for the right to organize without interference from the hospital administration for some years. The support of the Bishops and the religous community is a positive step that everyone involved worked tirelessly to achieve. I wish them success with trying to impove their situation. http://www.afscme.org/press/26368.cfm

I understand there was a vote that took place and a vote count at the end. That's all I asked. I get it about the charges. My point is it shouldn't come to charges if the job is being done correctly. No one thinks for a minute that the employer wants their employees to unionize and everyone involved knows that the employer is going to try to stop unionization. Tenet is no different. It is not a surprise when the employer reacts negatively to those wanting to join the union. No one expects the boss to say "hey pretty cool that your in the union" or isn't it great that you might get a union". Union organizers should have a clue as to what they are doing and where they are going in a campaign. If they everyone suffers and the end result is lousy for the nurses that tried to build a union. I wish the nurses we are talking about here, the best of luck getting back on their feet. In the end they must all work together to put aside their differences and provide the best possible care to their patients and at the same time take care of themselves.

I have two friends that work their in different units and they are both very happy.

First question, what were the results of the election? Their is always oposition from the employer when some workers want to unionize. This is nothing new and all the unions know this going in to a campaign. A union that knows what they are doing should be able to deal with this or they shouldn't be going in there when they first evaluate a campaign. There is apparently an agreement in place between th union and Tenet that allows the union to set up shop in the hospital and talk to the nurses with permission from the employer. The union has a list of who all the nurses are and they are allowed to hang up literature in the break rooms announcing the times they are available to meet and discuss the union. The one important ingredient missing in this type of campaign is the nurses never called the union to talk about unionizing. The union called the employer instead. I don't agree with this concept and in my opinion it does not work. Bottom line, if workers are not willing to openly fight to join the union then their will be no union or at best a very weak presence which usually ends is dissapointment for all. I do believe that workers in a union have higher wages, benefits and most important a voice in their work place. Employers all fight against giving this power to their employees. Tenet is no different than any other hospital administration, except they actually have agreements with the employer (Tenet) to go into the hospital with access to employees. I hope it works out for this group of nurses whatever they decide. If no union is the choice as it was the first time then unfortunatley they will be left with hostile feelings towards each other (who wants a union vs who does not) and their employer. In the end some will blame the union for this. That's a poor introduction of the union to workers. Instead of blaming the employer maybe the union should evaluate what they are doing wrong. After all they are using the existing members money to do this campaign and should be using that money responsibly. I don't mean to insult anyone. I am simply giving my opinion.

Actions speak louder than words. It's difficult for employees to stand in front of the hospital administration and expose whats going on inside to the public. I applaud the courage and determination of the Washington State Nurses.

Thank you for the nudge.

I can give my opinion to the questin asked here. Should Congress enact a national right to work law? I think their is a lot of work that Congress should be doing and I for one want them working on enacting a national healthcare plan like the one they have as members of congress. The list goes on and on about what I think congress should be working on and I really put the question raised here at the bottom of the list. I think that if we want a union then we should be able to do it without the employer interfering. I also think that if there's a union in the hospital and if everyone is involved in impoving benefits and working condition then it will be a better place to work. If only some are involved then nothing much will change. The union fails if they don't know how to get everyone involved. If they are doing the job then I think most nurses will join given the choice. In Texas they must not have done a good job and it sounds like the nurses got rid of the union. At least they have the right to make that change. While I support your right to have your own beliefs and share your opinions here I don't agree with you that congress should be working on this issue. I think there are greater issues in this country for our elected officials to focus on.

The only thing I know about the NNU is that the UAN merged with them. I think they are a new union. I know the OPEIU has been around a long time. Most hospitals in the union in Florida have been in SEIU. They do have a healtcare division. Some like them some don't. If OPEIU is the one you prefer then maybe you should talk with them and more important talk to your coworkers. The union that shows up on your door step with lots of glitzy flyers and organizers that talk about how great their union is doesn't mean they have the answers for you. You know what your issues are and the union that is addressing those issues in your state is the one that you might want to talk with. Everyone has an opinion but who is getting the work done for nurses in Florida is the question to ask. Good luck with whatever union you join.

Do you already belong to a Union at your hospital? If you belong to one then yes you are being raided if another union gets involved. If you are not in a union then its not a raid.

SEIU sent a group of nurses from PA and Florida last week to Haiti. One of the nurses from the group is blogging. Check it out. http://ceceinhaiti.blogspot.com/ She gives insight to what it's like there. This could help nurses that are planning on going to Haiti.