Question: Unions

[Town & Country]

I need to know asap.

If you're an RN in CA, how long does it take to get into the union?

Is the entire state unionized?

I am in KY, which is an "at-will" state.........which means you're expendable the first time you refuse to participate in inadeaquate care....

[Sheri257]

Much like your statement is an excellent example of penmanship by the idiocy.

I think it's wrong to call someone an idiot just because they don't like unions. I don't have direct experience with nursing unions, but I have been involved with other unions that were horribly corrupt i.e. union leadership taking payoffs from management in order to eliminate benefits for the workers.

Let's face it. Unions can sometimes encourage mediocrity. If some people know they won't be fired because they have union protection, they won't work as hard. I've seen this first hand. This wasn't true of all union members, but it definitely was a problem with some of them.

However, I also saw incredibly lazy incompetent non-union workers who kept their jobs because they were management favorites. There were just as many mediocre non-union workers as union workers.

Despite all of the arguments from both sides, I came to the conclusion that the quality of workers didn't differ that much. It really boiled down to who had more leverage. In the end, I still prefer workers having some leverage with a union because without it, you're pretty much a slave to management.

I'm hoping that CNA is not like other unions I've encountered, and I'll probably work for the CNA hospital in my area to find out first hand. I'm impressed with what they have done in this state i.e. the ratio law, among many other things.

But I'm fully aware that unions can sometimes be just as corrupt as management. So if Tom is skeptical of unions, I certainly don't blame him. And I certainly don't think he's an idiot.

[hopefully]

The union helps employees in getting good pay and benifits.

[wjf00]

Why would anyone not want to be in a union? QUOTE]

1. When one has a good administration like I'm lucky to work with.

2. When the administration listens to the concerns of all employees, not just the special interest groups.

3. When you have great benefits and a fair salary/hourly rate.

4. When you have an employer and employees who listen and respect one another.

My hospital is not unionized and I'm proud of it!

1. And when your "good administration" gets bought out and downsized and you start getting it up the keister from the new boss, you have no contract to protect you.

2. So the adminstration listens, like they listen to the birds sing in the morning, so what. With no contract they can undo anything on a whim, so they may throw you a bone every now and then.

3. Want to compare benefits? Besides, union contracts at competing hospitals are the premise for any benefits you get.

4. All the employees I work with respect each other, and guess what, we have no brown nosers looking to 'get one up' on anyone else.

My hospital is unionized and I am proud of it, and my PATIENTS benefit from it.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Thank you Lizz

Yes I am skeptical of unions

only because I used to be a shop steward many years ago

where I saw the truth behind unions

they are all the same

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

The union helps employees in getting good pay and benifits.

all my career I have helped myself

in getting good pay and benefits

I dont need anyone to do that for me

[suzanne4, RN]

I have been an RN for over twenty five years and have never belonged to a union and never plan on joining one AND I started my career in Detroit. A hospital that I had a contract a few years ago was unionized, they decided to switch unions, and got the royal screw. I have always marketed myself and have been able to get what I want and have been treated fairly, no matter where I have worked.................

I agree with "Tom" that you should be responsible for yourself............. :balloons: