Question about striking nurses?

[mommy2boys]

Our local hospitals nurses voted to strike because they are not getting what they want with their contract (a 11% raise and no more floating are the major reasons). I'm not a nurse so I don't understand their reasoning to strike to "protect their patients". Could someone please explain to me why striking will help protect their patients. I have always felt that there are some professions that shouldn't be able to strike (walk off the job), police, fire and nurses and doctors. My husband is a correctional officer and they had to solve their contract (which they did) without striking so I know it can and does get done.

I'm not trying to start a huge debate, I just want to understand why striking will help the patients. I know that in the long run it will help, but what about the patients now? Let me finish off by saying that I feel that the nurses are not asking for anything out of line, I just don't understand how walking out is going to help solve anything.

Thanks for your input

Erin

ps I think that nurses rock and that is why I am going to school to be one.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Your level of education is irrelevant. I am also a diploma grad, and I happen to strongly disagree with your view of crossing a line. When you do that, you undercut what those nurses are striking for and you give your support to the management who have not been willing to negotiate in good faith with the nurses.

Prettify what a "scab" is all you wish, crossing picket lines hurts the nurses who are out there fighting for better conditions for patients and nurses.

A Scab is what protects and helps heal a wound.

Crossing those picket lines is essential

I love crossing picket lines

I also love strike pay very much, I can make an excellent living this way.

[AliRae]

A Scab is what protects and helps heal a wound.

Crossing those picket lines is essential

I love crossing picket lines

I also love strike pay very much, I can make an excellent living this way.

Have you thought about the fact that, if there were no scabs available, there would be no way hospitals could afford to let their nurses strike? Think if what that would mean for nursing as a whole.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Have you thought about the fact that, if there were no scabs available, there would be no way hospitals could afford to let their nurses strike? Think if what that would mean for nursing as a whole.

And if there were no scabs, like me, with the exorbitant money and other costs, I charge. You need scabs to help heal the wounds.

and I do mean exorbitant charges

[fergus51]

I've been offered strike work before. The pay really wasn't that good. You can make almost the same amount on a regular travel assignment out here.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Have you thought about the fact that, if there were no scabs available, there would be no way hospitals could afford to let their nurses strike? Think if what that would mean for nursing as a whole.

First, let me say that I am not a fan of strikebreakers.

But to play the devil's advocate, if the hospital has to bring in scabs. ......

According to some prounion posters, the strikebreakers' work is never up to par.....this hurts the facility's rep and puts them at increased risk of lawsuits and malpractice. They also will get complaints (can you imagine the Press Gainey scores) from patients and MDs, and MDs start sending patients elsewhere. This will help the strikers. Plus after management has to work the floors, if indeed, the conditions are that bad to necessitate striking, it will help them (at least temporarily) see the light.

If conditions are not that bad, or the strikebreakers are better employees, the strikers may have big problems. As a traveler, I have worked assignments where I did not get floated, while a staffer did because the staffer was a total slacker....despite the predominant theory that travelers are not that dedicated, and are never as good as staff.

The other option, is that the facility can shutdown, a no win for both parties.

[Freedom42]

First, let me say that I am not a fan of strikebreakers.

But to play the devil's advocate, if the hospital has to bring in scabs. ......

According to some prounion posters, the strikebreakers' work is never up to par.....this hurts the facility's rep and puts them at increased risk of lawsuits and malpractice. They also will get complaints (can you imagine the Press Gainey scores) from patients and MDs, and MDs start sending patients elsewhere. This will help the strikers. Plus after management has to work the floors, if indeed, the conditions are that bad to necessitate striking, it will help them (at least temporarily) see the light.

If conditions are not that bad, or the strikebreakers are better employees, the strikers may have big problems. As a traveler, I have worked assignments where I did not get floated, while a staffer did because the staffer was a total slacker....despite the predominant theory that travelers are not that dedicated, and are never as good as staff.

The other option, is that the facility can shutdown, a no win for both parties.

I've read a lot on this board about potential strikes, and the concept of strikes in general, but very few actual strikes. I haven't had a lot of luck finding statistics. Maybe someone reading this can help me.

How many times do nurses go on strike in an average year?

How many of those strikes last, say, more than a week?

And how often, as the above poster suggests, does a hospital shut down as a result of a nurses' strike?

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

I've been offered strike work before. The pay really wasn't that good. You can make almost the same amount on a regular travel assignment out here.

Really, I make out quite well. I even had one place throw in green fees for me.

[pickledpepperRN]

I remember 2 strikes this century, both in 2002.

Long Beach: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5072/is_44_24/ai_94270657/pg_1

Los Angeles: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5072/is_38_24/ai_92808155

Strike facts for CNA is on page 17: http://www.calnurse.org/assets/pdf/cna101.pdf

Kaiser 1997: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3689/is_199706/ai_n8775037

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9505E3DB1F38F93BA25754C0A961958260

NO to labor/management partnership! http://eastbay.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2006/05/08/story6.html?jst=pn_pn_lk

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

MNA also struck in 2002(?). The union won a fair contract. Last round of negotiations both sides were very respectful of each other and nurses won a good contract for nurses practicing in MPLS/St Paul.

[Freedom42]

Thanks for these references. What I'm trying to assess is whether strikes really happen all that often. It doesn't appear that they do, and when they do, they don't last very long. In the examples cited above, strikes were last resorts, and nurses came away victorious.

It's interesting that the possibility of striking is nonetheless frequently raised by posters as a reason for being anti-union. Could it be fear-mongering promoted by management?

I'm still curious as to whether I'll hear about any facility that's been shut down by a nurses' labor action. Or is that a management-touted scenario, too?

[fergus51]

Really, I make out quite well. I even had one place throw in green fees for me.

2 companies called me about $40 an hour assignments for a potential strike in Northern California not long ago. I don't do strikes anyways, but was surprised at the low wage. $40 an hour is the same as what a different company was offering for regular travel contracts at my current hospital in my specialty. A regular per diem job up there would pay almost twice that. People talk about all the money they make doing strikes, but no one wants to be specific. What hourly wage makes it worthwhile?

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

not for a 1000/hr.