Strike nursing

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 14, 2014

OMG I am startled didn't realize there was this kind of interaction between educated professionals name calling and seemingly hate for people who may disagree with their beliefs I feel nurses ALLNURSES are above the kind of bickering I read here
by nature of the work nurses do we are caring and compassionate I am embarrassed and appalled to see this among people
that I admire and respect as people who do the work no one else will I do understand both sides but as educated people we MUST find ways to communicate with each other and not degrade the Nursing profession We are the most respected profession in the world lets keep it that way I am trying to not disrespect anyone or any side here Please do the same.

Huh? Name calling? If you're referring to the term "scab", that's the term for someone who crosses picket lines to do the jobs of those who are on strike. You evidently are under the impression that nurses are superhuman angels, and that just isn't the case.

Fiona59 · Jul 15, 2014

I'm a union nurse. I'm deemed an essential service and not permitted to strike. The last time we did strike our provincial government slapped huge fines on the union in an attempt to "bust" em (and it's a provincial government employee union).

No, we man the picket lines and don't prevent anyone from crossing into the hospital. Patients are still cared for but it's hard to miss a couple of hundred nurses in front of a hospital wearing picket signs.

I hope all of these non-union people including the schrienerfamily don't have paid vacations, use the statutory holidays, have paid sick leave, use employer provided benefit plans, have a five day week because that's what those nasty unions obtained for all workers.

Tell me schrienerfamily do you believe in child labour as well?

Dewman · Jul 18, 2014

"Huh? Name calling? If you're referring to the term "scab", that's the term for someone who crosses picket lines to do the jobs of those who are on strike."

True, but it is ALSO "name-calling", of course.

"Scab" has ALWAYS been a pejorative used by strikers to denigrate those who come in to work in their place.

bagladyrn, RN · Jul 21, 2014

"Huh? Name calling? If you're referring to the term "scab", that's the term for someone who crosses picket lines to do the jobs of those who are on strike."

True, but it is ALSO "name-calling", of course.
"Scab" has ALWAYS been a pejorative used by strikers to denigrate those who come in to work in their place.

Actually it is such an accepted term that at one time the website listing strike breaking positions was titled "Scab.org". They called themselves that.

Dewman · Jul 24, 2014

The fact that SOME strike-breakers refer to themselves as "scabs" does not change the fact that it is considered a pejorative when used by a striker to refer to a strike-breaker.

It is not dissimilar to the idea that the term "******" is sometimes used among blacks in reference to themselves. But when used by NON-blacks, the term is universally considered a pejorative.

toomuchbaloney · Jul 24, 2014

The fact that SOME strike-breakers refer to themselves as "scabs" does not change the fact that it is considered a pejorative when used by a striker to refer to a strike-breaker.
It is not dissimilar to the idea that the term "******" is sometimes used among blacks in reference to themselves. But when used by NON-blacks, the term is universally considered a pejorative.

After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad and the vampire, He had some awful stuff left with which He made a scab. A scab is a two-legged animal with a cork-screw soul, a water-logged brain, a combination backbone of jelly and glue. Where others have hearts, he carries a tumor of rotten principles.
Jack London

"It is not nice to be a scab. Not only is it not in good social taste and comradeship, but, from the standpoint of food and shelter, it is bad business policy. Nobody desires to scab, to give most for least."
Thurgood Marshall 1903

Fair enough...it is not a nice term. We shall henceforth utilize the term "strikebreaker".

OCNRN63, RN · Jul 25, 2014

Fair enough...it is not a nice term. We shall henceforth utilize the term "strikebreaker".

How about referring to them as Benedict Arnolds?

BrandonLPN, LPN · Jul 25, 2014

The fact that SOME strike-breakers refer to themselves as "scabs" does not change the fact that it is considered a pejorative when used by a striker to refer to a strike-breaker.
It is not dissimilar to the idea that the term "*******" is sometimes used among blacks in reference to themselves. But when used by NON-blacks, the term is universally considered a pejorative.

Actually, it is quite dissimilar.

Dewman · Jul 25, 2014

Oh? Ho so?

toomuchbaloney · Jul 25, 2014

First, it is dissimilar because "scabs" choose to cross the line, while there is no choice involved in skin color.

Dewman · Jul 26, 2014

I did not mean that the MEANINGS of the two terms were comparable. I meant that the USE of both terms by those to whom the terms don't apply, is comparable.

In both cases, the respective term is a pejorative when used by those outside the subject group.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2014

MODERATOR NOTE:

This 3 YEAR OLD THREAD is about positions that are available for nurses who wish to cross picket lines.

Please stick to topic.