Should nurses be allowed to strike?

Sheri257 · Dec 1, 2003

Actually, I agree with both of you: Steph and imenid37.

I have no delusions about unions. As I mentioned, I've seen the dark side.

Perhaps I have a slight bias towards unions (but only a little one) because it seems to have been the only way to accomplish salary and benefit progress in my area.

It's strange because the local hospitals do support the nursing school financially and otherwise. Yet they still refuse to pay competitive wages to keep more graduates here --- only paying more when the union forced them to.

But ultimately I agree with Steph when she says: "To each their own."

-jt · Dec 1, 2003

>

I understand what youre trying to say, but it just seems like such a contradiction. How does a nurse advocate for change when she's not willing to take a final stand after everything else she has tried has failed? A strike is a last resort action - taken only when all other efforts to solve the issues & accomplish the needs have failed. That means that your way didnt work and the problems are not getting resolved. Any improvements that come after a strike, are solely the result of the strike and of those nurses who were willing to stand up for the fight.

Even though she may believe that changes need to be made, a nurse who crosses a strike line is not advocating for the needed improvements. On the contrary, whether she/he intends to or not, she/he is actually helping the hospital to fight the effort and resist making the needed changes. A nurse may agree that changes need to be made, but by crossing the strike line, she is helping to prevent that from happening. Walking a strike line may not be something she is willing to do to obtain the needed improvements when all other efforts have failed, although I dont know what other options are left to try when nothing else up to that point has achieved the needed changes. But fine. If thats how she feels, dont walk the strike line --- just dont cross it.

Work someplace else until the strike is resolved. Especially if you believe changes do need to be made and you expect to share in improvements that come about solely because your colleagues stood their ground.

-jt · Dec 1, 2003

Id vote that one down too. And vote to go with the RN-only union. Theres no one who fits that description in a professional nurses association union run solely for and by the RNs themselves.

http://www.UANnurse.org

Joe Hill · Dec 1, 2003

Originally posted by teeituptom
I have come to recognize unions as a dictatorship of mass mediocrity.

I've heard this bromide about unions promoting mediocrity, but no one has given me any real examples of this. Perhaps you can give me a few? :confused:

OC_An Khe · Dec 1, 2003

Steph

Agree with your right to represent yourself, but what do you do when the employer says quite simply that they won't listen to or negotiate with you?

Individual negotiations are fine but the employer is under no obligation to negotiate with any individual. While once a Union is formed the employer has a legal obligation to negotiate and must negotiate certain conditions of employment with the Union members.

As for those who cross picket lines, They must reap the benefits won by the striking RNs that is the law. Even if they felt guilty and didn't want to keep the benefits won by the strikers they can't refuse them by Federal law.

SOLIDARITY FOREVER

Sheri257 · Dec 1, 2003

This was posted on another thread, but it's also relevant to this discussion.

Story about Bush's proposal to eliminate overtime pay for many workers, including nurses:

http://www.hpae.org/nursemobilizeforotpay062503.htm

Apparently only nurses who are unionized will continue to get overtime under this proposal.

Key quote from the Labor Department:

"Many nurses are and will continue to be paid overtime due to collective bargaining agreements."

However, the story also points out that many nurses don't belong to a union and, therefore, could lose overtime pay.

allnurses Guide · Dec 2, 2003

Originally posted by ocankhe
Steph
Agree with your right to represent yourself, but what do you do when the employer says quite simply that they won't listen to or negotiate with you?
Individual negotiations are fine but the employer is under no obligation to negotiate with any individual. While once a Union is formed the employer has a legal obligation to negotiate and must negotiate certain conditions of employment with the Union members.
As for those who cross picket lines, They must reap the benefits won by the striking RNs that is the law. Even if they felt guilty and didn't want to keep the benefits won by the strikers they can't refuse them by Federal law.
SOLIDARITY FOREVER

The truth is if I felt there was no way besides going on strike that my employer wouldn't negotiate with me, I'd give them 2 weeks notice and find another job.

Who wants to work with someone who won't work with you?

There is an art to compromise and I'm ain't hanging around if my employer isn't willing to work on that.

I won't feel guilty when they are understaffed because I'm not the answer to their staffing problems.

I'd also look at whether the staff is being unreasonable in their demands. I have seen plenty of whiny co-workers who portray management as evil but do absolutely nothing to contribute to solutions.

steph

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2003

Nicely put Stevielynn

I agree with you, if you dont like that they arent willing to compromise with you go elsewhere. There isnt any shortage of openings in most areas.

I have always advocated to represent yourself, to promote your self. To sell yourself. etc.

I get easily amused by those chanting prounionistic mantras as though it is some kind of wiccan magic to influence others.

As far as this overtime thing everyone is so concerned about, if it comes to pass in actuality then I just wont work overtime unless its on my terms. I am quite capable of saying NO. And not feeling guilty about it either.

RNPD · Dec 4, 2003

The problem with leaving and going elsewhere if a facility won't meet your demands is that it weakens the local community hospitals where most of us and our families go for our own care. If every nurse selfishly leaves for a better deal, the hospital staffing will remain poor and this poor care is what WE get when we need hospitalization. Also, most places tend to meet the lowest common denominator, and after a while all the hospitals in the area will allow increasingly poor care with dangerous low staffing/salaries/bennies because they figure if the hospital down the road gets away with it, we can do it too and boost our profits. It's a snowball effect; pretty soon there will be NOWHERE else to go. That same snowball effect works for unionized facilities-pretty soon all the hospitals in the area need to match the staffing/salaries/benefits or they won't be able to recruit/retain staff. Again a snowball effect.

So when we say that unionized nurses are striking for all of us-it's the truth. And when we say that scabs undermine this effort by looking out only for number one-again, the truth. So you will have only yourself to blame if someday you or a loved one are on the receiving end of poor care due to the above issues and that lack of care leads to serious complication or even death.

The rest of us will continue the fight for ourselves, our profession, and our patients.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2003

Another mantra RNPD

you left out SOLIDARITY FOREVER

RNPD · Dec 4, 2003

I speak the truth as I see it. I don't use "mantras". (although I notice yours is "doo wah ditty". I think that speaks for itself as to your mentality)

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2003

I will speak the truth also

You strike

I collect strike pay

And now there is harmony again in the universe!!!!

Doo Wah Ditty