scab nursing

[defyinggravity2009]

tonight at work, my coworkers and I saw a fax came through around 5pm, mentioning a 'possible nursing strike' at an unnamed hospital in my state. The only other information provided was the maximum weekly pay, the need for a one-week minimum, vague mentions of all-expenses paid for transportation/lodging, and a phone number to contact if interested. When someone mentioned that they might call, another (very experienced) nurse said that they would be considered a 'scab nurse' if they crossed the picket line to work at the facility where such grievances are present.

I've never heard this term used before, although I can gather that stepping in to work at a facility where nurses are on strike doesn't exactly get greeted with smiles from colleagues. Where did it come from? Have any members of the board ever been a part of this kind of nursing? What's it like on the other side, to be the nurses that utilize collective bargaining to meet their needs?

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

The rule that someone should be forced to pay union dues when they do not want to is wrong under an circumstances. Especially since the money may be used to support causes or policies may not agree with. Since the middle class is said to be under "assault" so often then it may be even more just not to require middle class workers to pay their hard earned money into an organization they do not support. .

My union dues go toward supporting causes like staffing, pay, health insurance, pension, working conditions, vacation time, bonuses, differentials....

No one is "forced" to pay union dues. There are plenty of non-union jobs out there to choose from. In fact, I notice many of the most "anti-union" RNs I know previously worked at non-union facilities like nursing homes. They could go back there any day but they don't.

They would much rather continually bad mouth unions while raking in all of the benefits of belonging to one.

For that privilege, they pay union dues.

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

I remember a few years ago locally there was a pending nursing strike and they came to an agreement but since they had signed the contract for all the temp workers they shut the nurses out for a week while the temps covered. Personally I thought that was a big bleep you.

I have never been a union worker so I have really no opinion either way and my only experience with a strike was when I worked at a supermarket and my mum and her friends went on strike while all the workers kids ran the market. (under 18 weren't eligible for union membership) So there was picketing but no harassment.

[Aurora77]

You don't believe in unions of r middle-upper middle class workers, but you have no problem taking advantage of a nurses' strike to improve your finances? Okey dokey.

You've got it. It's the poor who need union protection and they are often overlooked in favor of the more well off, like nurses and teachers. The poor aren't glamorous. It's sad.

[mazy]

You've got it. It's the poor who need union protection and they are often overlooked in favor of the more well off, like nurses and teachers. The poor aren't glamorous. It's sad.

Who said the poor were glamorous? What an odd thing to say.

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

Unions are needed to keep nursing a middle class job.

[Aurora77]

Who said the poor were glamorous? What an odd thing to say.

No one. Re-read what I said and you'll see what I mean.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

No one. Re-read what I said and you'll see what I mean.

I'm not sure what you meant either, so we're either stupid or you might not be expressing yourself as clearly as you think you are.

[Old.Timer]

I always thought that the term scab was used to describe actual members of the striking union who crossed the line to work. Sounds like it is now used more generically to describe anyone filling in for the striking workers.

[Aurora77]

I'm not sure what you meant either, so we're either stupid or you might not be expressing yourself as clearly as you think you are.

Hmm..I guess not. What I meant is, that unions are all about the more "glamorous" professions, like nurses, teachers, auto workers, not the actual working poor. Instead of helping those who actually could benefit from unionization, unions focus on those that don't really need it anymore. Does that make more sense?

[mazy]

No one. Re-read what I said and you'll see what I mean.

I don't have the energy.

[mary3862]

I am a striking nurse and so appreciate your words. We are doing this for all of nursing and for the safety of our patients. Big corporation health companies seem to only be interested in their bottom lines, not proper care of the patients.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

This thread is 5 years old:shy: