Katinthebox

I have never worked for a hospital with a union before, so I do not know anything different. I have never been a fan of unions, but recently I have seen so much unhappiness and begun to wonder what it might be like. Many other Sutter hospitals are union but mine is not. I am happy with my pay and generally happy with my job, with the exception of a few things. I am hearing more and more from my coworkers "this wouldn't be happening if we were in a union." In my unit, we do not actually have coverage from breaks. Charge nurses do not cover you and we do not have a break relief nurse. We must clock out and in as if we took a meal break but never actually take the full 30 minutes. We are also required to float to other areas of the hospital without extra training or orientation and most feel it is unsafe. Those from non monitored units will float to a monitored unit. Retirement here is not what it is compared to many other hospitals from what I hear. I've heard grumbling a from others in different units about wanting to be union and I am surprised it has not happened. Would becoming union really change things for the better?