solicited by a national union

[boztc]

I have been contacted by a national nursing union and invited to attend their out of state "convention" next month. They are willing to pay my airfare and accomodations for 4 days. Plus...I will earn CEUs. Sweet, right?

I originally joined the organization (not the union) to promote patient advocacy. That's how they got my contact information. I am not anti-union (probably more pro than con). This organization has done a lot to bring patient rights to the forefront, and is active in the legislature.

Here's my dilemma....I can't find any information about a convention in the area. I'm sure they are trying to recruit me to organize for the union in my state, but we really didn't discuss that option. I'd be willing to get involved for health care reform, but the union thing....I'm not sure.

So....should I accept the free trip and see what happens? Has anyone else experienced a similar situation?

[time4meRN]

No but It sounds like you know what to watch out for. As long as your comfortable with sticking to your guns I don't see a poblem. Just be sure it's really the union doing the confrence. Now days you got be careful. good luck

[Mommy2NQ]

Not to sound negative but... "If it sounds to good to be tru it usually is".

Just be careful.

[justme1972]

An easy way to check that would be to ask where they are holding the convention and look up the hotel on the internet yourself (don't accept a phone number from them) and call the hotel to verify the convention. They will be well-aware of an event that large if once is planned.

I would also be very careful about anyone knowing you are going that you work with, which essentially means no one.

I live in an area where unions of various types are very strong, and even though it is technically illegal to terminate someone from a job for trying to start a union or inquiring about one, it ranks up there with anything else: If they want a legal reason to get rid of you, they will find one.

I wish you luck..I am a FIRM believer in nurses' unions.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

I have been contacted by a national nursing union and invited to attend their out of state "convention" next month. They are willing to pay my airfare and accomodations for 4 days. Plus...I will earn CEUs. Sweet, right?

I originally joined the organization (not the union) to promote patient advocacy. That's how they got my contact information. I am not anti-union (probably more pro than con). This organization has done a lot to bring patient rights to the forefront, and is active in the legislature.

Here's my dilemma....I can't find any information about a convention in the area. I'm sure they are trying to recruit me to organize for the union in my state, but we really didn't discuss that option. I'd be willing to get involved for health care reform, but the union thing....I'm not sure.

So....should I accept the free trip and see what happens? Has anyone else experienced a similar situation?

You might get a paid for vacation out of it, what the heck.

[NurseBill]

There are few Nurse Unions in my area of the country, and lately the Unions have been trying to set up meetings and get involved. I was shocked at how upper hospital management went ballistic! You couldn't get a meeting about patient care issues, safety problems, and other major nursing concerns, but suddenly all the higher ups were scheduling mandatory meetings with us to tell us how that ALL unions were the scourge of healthcare. Historically I haven't been pro union, but I've got to admit that the hospitals reaction made me take a second look at considering a union.