SEIU vs. CNA this week at my hospital

[CABG patch kid]

After reading so much about what happened in Ohio a week or two ago, I tried to stay neutral and look at both sides of the story, like I do with any other situation that has two or more sides.

However, this week I have personally experienced something that makes me question and doubt CNA's motives. Just two days ago at work, 0700, nurses start showing up for change of shift with hot pink flyers in hand. Guess who was passing them out by the employee parking lot? Yep, CNA representatives. Also, does anyone else find it a bit coincedental that our hospital employees (including nurses) are represented by SEIU? Finally, did I mention that we have been in bargaining for about 6 weeks and our current contract expires very soon? Yes, all interesting pieces of the puzzle here.

I am not sure exactly what CNA's intentions were at our facility, as we quickly took all the flyers and put them in the shredder bin. Security was promptly called to escort them off the premises, and the police were also there when I left. But those CNA people aren't so easily discouraged!! The next night when I came back to work, they were across the parking lot, on the sidewalk where they wouldn't technically be on our property, still handing out those little pink flyers.

I wanted to post here in light of the whole fiasco in Ohio, not to cause drama, but to let people know that there is something fishy going on with CNA.

[klbackus]

there's been a lot of back and forth about what actually transpired at the labor notes conference in dearborn, michigan.

i wasn't there, but registered nurse dian palmer, president of seiu healthcare wisconsin, was. in this video, she describes what happened at the nonviolent protest and calls on afl-cio president john sweeney to retract the hasty statement he released last week that accepted cna's inaccurate depiction of events.

in this unedited video footage, part 1 and part 2, you see that it wasn't a bunch of "thugs" but mostly female seiu members and their families in a brief action. the interaction was spirited, like most labor union protests, and there were some heated exchanges by a few participants on both sides. but the raw video shows that the cna's claims of orchestrated violence just aren't true.

a video by the labor video project also tells a different story--not just about the labor notes protest, but also about the union elections in ohio. the video features an interview with susan horne, a registered nurse with chp in cincinnati, who responds to questions from an angry conference participant concerning the protest.

[RN Power Ohio]

I note the video is not on the doors to the conference room! Where is the rest of the video I know the camera recorded the rest of the story!

Also note that the video from inside cuts to a photo and then all outside. Pretty clever - good thing for the 20 eyewitness accounts that say different.

[HobbesRN]

I note the video is not on the doors to the conference room! Where is the rest of the video I know the camera recorded the rest of the story!

Also note that the video from inside cuts to a photo and then all outside. Pretty clever - good thing for the 20 eyewitness accounts that say different.

How do you know for a fact that the video you're talking about wasn't doctored?? And, if, in fact, all those accounts were factual and not fiction, why did the California Supreme Court vacate the restraining order against SEIU that CNA had dramatically petitioned for, based on those 'factual' accounts?? Maybe because those accounts were histrionic vitriol and NOT fact??

[nicurn001]

The video is interesting ,simply from the point of view of group dynamics .What we see is taken from a viewpoint of a participant who is following the group ,away from the point of original contact of the two groups .

I feel that the majority of SEIU participants were there for a peaceful picket ( I cannot believe people would go to such an event with their children , looking to cause trouble ) , however as often happens in such an event , emotions rise ,the group activity spins out of control and at the very least both sides feel threatened and react to that threat .

Personally I always feel it is best to try to get to the truth of any disputed event , by trying to get a opinion from a neutral party to that event . In this case Labor Notes had no axe to grind and participants from both groups attended the meeting , it's reporting of events seem to show there was a percieved threat from the SEIU , which led to the Police being called .

Whilst the SEIU had the right to voice there opinion , because of the high level of emotions generated by this disagreement , a conflict was almost inevitable .

[RN Power Ohio]

How do you know for a fact that the video you're talking about wasn't doctored?? And, if, in fact, all those accounts were factual and not fiction, why did the California Supreme Court vacate the restraining order against SEIU that CNA had dramatically petitioned for, based on those 'factual' accounts?? Maybe because those accounts were histrionic vitriol and NOT fact??

I know for a fact because I was there. I was one of 3 CNA/NNOC RN's in the foyer to the grand ballroom. The rest of our group was out the back door or on the 14th floor before the doors were even opened. I saw the light of that camera and know it was recording the melee! I saw the men in bandanas, the walls shaking from SEIU banging on the glass, the injured retiree, and as I went to help her I was pushed into the arm to arm chain of people attempting to keep trouble out of the ballroom. I joined arms with people I never met before all chanting for SEIU to go away while they were getting punched and pushed- all BEFORE the police arrived.

Maybe 1199 members should demand full disclosure from their union leaders and test the strength of democracy within that organization.

I know that video is altered just like the one with the RT and nurse who went to the home of our board member.

I know the way SEIU staff behaves because for 5 days I was yelled at, had smoke blown in my face, called names I can't type here, followed on foot and by car from by staff.

I know SEIU was so obnoxious that they got kicked out of the Springfield hotel.

SEIU spin doctors can say whatever they like. If the organization keeps up the way they are the truth will become evident eventually.

Why SEIU members support a man who is behaving like a gangster I will never understand.

The only reason the restraining order was not upheld is because there is a specific provision in the law that makes it non-applicable to labor disputes. If this were any "civilians" being harassed by SEIU the law would be different.

[HididiScribbler]

I'm a new grad, working at a hospital represented by CNA. Honestly, I'm more focused on just doing my job right now than anything else! But I have gotten so many mailings, been called and today an SEIU person showed up at my door! Honestly, I have no idea if CNA is any better...but I am not ok with members from another union showing up at my doorstep. Is it too much to ask that people let me be in my own home??