The CNA is preventing me from getting an ununionzed position

Jolie, BSN · May 30, 2008

Is it HR at the hospice or HR at your current place of employment that is telling you that you are ineligible for this non-union position?

I have never worked for a unionized facility, but I had a co-worker at a non-union hospital who worked per diem with us, and full time at a nearby union hospital, so I don't understand this information you are being given. Unless, it is the hosital union trying to intimidate you.

Please contact a labor attorney or your state labor board for guidance.

Good luck!

nicurn001 · May 30, 2008

Are these two hospitals part of the same corporation , if so there may be , only maybe ( contact your union rep to clarify this )a contract clause that covers this .But I think this is unlikely .

If the hospitals are not part of the chain ,why are you not questioning , what HR is saying , then being unhappy with the union .This scenario is a win win for your present employer ,they have you ****** at the union and you won't be splitting your time between them and another employer.So that when they are busy again ,you will be eating out of their hands taking all the shifts you can to make up for your lost income .

suzanne4, RN · May 30, 2008

More than likely, they are under the same corporate umbrella, and if so; what HR is telling you is correct. Even if the facilities are separate, they have the same ownership and than that is what is causing issues for you.

There is not an issue with CNA as for working at two different facilities, whether or not one is unionized and one is not; but the fact is if the facilities are both under the same corporation, then you cannot work at both secondary to the CNA protocol.

It has to do with ownership of the two facilities, and not directly with your getting hired there. What they are trying to tell you is that if you are working under a union contract at one facility, you cannot work for the same owner at another facility that is not unionized. May be easier to look at it this way.

eandgsma · May 30, 2008

I would look into other hospital systems if I were you. I'm in SD County and Tri-City is not doing well, as you know. If you like hospice, look into private hospice companies like Elizabeth Hospice. Otherwise, look to Scripps, Palomar, or Sharp for a new job. Sharp is unionized but you are not required to be a part of the union. I don't think Palomar is and I'm not sure about Scripps. I'm not sure what your reason is for staying within the Tri-City system? But if there is a valid reason for staying, then I suggest questioning and contacting your union rep as was suggested.

Kojak · May 31, 2008

I'm in SD County and Tri-City is not doing well, as you know.

I'm not sure what you mean by Tri-City "not doing well". I've been in SD County for over 20 years and have done registry work in many of the hospitals here. I've found Tri-City a good place to work; certainly not worse than any of the others. Can you please give an example of what you mean by "not doing well"?

Agnus · May 31, 2008

First it is NOT the CNA that is stopping you. What does your contract say? You should have a copy and be very familiar with it.

Like previously mentioned. If and only if this new job is owned by the same corporation as your present facility, then they can not hire you for both a union job and a non union job at the same time. You must be either union or non union. You can not be both for the same employer. This has nothing to do with California Nurses Association (CNA).

If you are seeking a second job where there is no union and is not under the same ownership of your other job then no one can stop you on the basis of unionization.

However, an employer may be able to stop you if you hire with a different employer while you are still employed with them if there is a do not compete clause in your contract or policy. This has nothing to do with any union.

The reason you can not hold a union job and a non union job for the same employer is there is a conflict of interest. It is not CNA who decided this.

eandgsma · May 31, 2008

I'm not sure what you mean by Tri-City "not doing well". I've been in SD County for over 20 years and have done registry work in many of the hospitals here. I've found Tri-City a good place to work; certainly not worse than any of the others. Can you please give an example of what you mean by "not doing well"?

Well, they were on a hiring freeze for one. Second they were unable to get funding for their earthquake retrofitting that is government mandated. If they don't get it done, they are at risk of being shut down. I didn't mean they weren't doing well as far as not being a good place to work. I didn't mean the people weren't good either. I just meant that, like the original poster said, the census is low, there isn't that much work, therefore the OP needed to find extra work. The hospital isn't making enough money. I have friends that work there and enjoy it very much. So, nothing against the hospital itself, just the lack of enough work for some people.

labcat01, BSN, RN · May 31, 2008

First it is NOT the CNA that is stopping you. What does your contract say? You should have a copy and be very familiar with it.
Like previously mentioned. If and only if this new job is owned by the same corporation as your present facility, then they can not hire you for both a union job and a non union job at the same time. You must be either union or non union. You can not be both for the same employer. This has nothing to do with California Nurses Association (CNA).

Just out of curiosity how can you (and all the previous posters) say this has nothing to do with the union? Isn't it a union policy? I'm only asking because my friends that work in big system hospitals (in Texas where there is no union) have no problem rotating through different facilities as needed. I'm just curious because wouldn't the hospital benefit from having nurses that could rotate as needed- it just doesn't make sense to me. Explain - don't flame :)

Kojak · May 31, 2008

Just out of curiosity how can you (and all the previous posters) say this has nothing to do with the union? Isn't it a union policy? :)

I know that union policy does not allow individual nurses at the hospital to make their own choice regarding being represented by the union. I don't know what their policy is regarding working in "union" and "non-union" areas. It would be helpful to know whether nurses could work in both areas prior to union takeover. If so, the presence of the union at the hospital has (either directly or indirectly) resulted in the above issue.

suzanne4, RN · May 31, 2008

Just out of curiosity how can you (and all the previous posters) say this has nothing to do with the union? Isn't it a union policy? I'm only asking because my friends that work in big system hospitals (in Texas where there is no union) have no problem rotating through different facilities as needed. I'm just curious because wouldn't the hospital benefit from having nurses that could rotate as needed- it just doesn't make sense to me. Explain - don't flame :)

This is not a union policy per se, but one of the employer as well. And this is not a big hospital system either. But it is not just CNA, or any other union that has this in place also.

You are talking of two different states as well, and the rules are different.

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 31, 2008

I am an R.N. who works at TriCity medical center, which became unionized sometime in 2006. Recently, I began searching for another job to supplement my income because the senses in my current place of work has been low leading to a financial hardship on myself.
With that being said I found a job at TriCity Hospice, however I am being told by HR that I cannot accept the position nor be offered the position because the Hospital unit I work on is unionized and the Hospice is not.
Can the CNA prevent me from obtaining a job that is not unionized while I work in a facility that is?
If anyone has any information regarding this matter please respond and if you can provide resources please do so.

I am a bit confused...a CNA, (meaning Certified Nursing Assistant) is keeping you from getting a unionized position? Or does the acronym CNA mean something else? Please clarify...thanks!