The Unions of the States

allnurses Guide · Feb 16, 2010

hospital rn unions grew more after 1995 - http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/content/8877/2009-03_the_impact_of_hospital_unions_on_nurse_wages.pdf

in 1943 the california nurses association endorsed collective bargaining for its members.

in 1946 the california nurses association negotiated its first contract with eight hospitals which included an 8 hour day, shift differential, paid vacation and sick leave, seven holidays, and half time pay for on-call hours.

in 1947 the cna achieved an 8 hour day forty hour work week.

in 1949 the cna was certified by the nlrb for profit hospitals.

in 1969 eight hospitals succeeded in establishing professional performance committees (ppc). this formalized a procedure for direct care rns complaints regarding professional practice and patient advocacy disputes.

in 1976 cna initiated individual retirement accounts for members. it was the first nurses association to do so.

in 1983 cna with the ana were instrumental in the passage of the “occupational health and safety hazard communication standard” aka “workers right to know”.

in 1994 the cna defeated three bills that would have eliminated overtime pay for direct care nurses.

in 1995 cna voted to become independent from the ana. the goals were to establish title protection for licensed nurses, whistleblower protection with fines for nurses and others who report unsafe conditions to governmental regulatory authorities, and to pass nurse to patient ratio legislation. all these were accomplished in 1999. the ratios went into effect in 2004.

UCAN10 · Feb 19, 2010

The report helps with showing the advantages the unions can have. Where can we find data that allows us to compare the cost of belonging the the union with the advantages?

allnurses Guide · Feb 19, 2010

the report showed that the average non union rn hourly wage from 2000 to 2006 was $25.87. for union rns it was $29.55. - http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/content/8877/2009-03_the_impact_of_hospital_unions_on_nurse_wages.pdf

our dues are about 2 hours pay per month for full time rns and less for those working part time.

rounding up the average rn in the study would pay $60.00 a month in dues. we make much more and pay more. (last i read the max was raised from $80.00.) overtime does not count.

the union rn making about $3.00 an hour more for three 12 hour shifts a week would make $432.00 more a month. (minus dues the average union nurse would have made $372.00 more than the average non union nurse.)

i've met nurses who won't vote for a first contract that doesn't increase pay more than the amount of dues.

i heard a nevada rn say she wouldn't have joined if the pay increase wasn't more than her dues.

she chooses to pay.

for me the advocacy education and unity improve our ability to care for our patients. that is worth the dues.

Chico David, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2010

The report helps with showing the advantages the unions can have. Where can we find data that allows us to compare the cost of belonging the the union with the advantages?

To say it another way, my rough calculation is that a nurse working full time 12s, (about 150 hours per month) under a typical CNA contract would pay in the ballpark of 1.4% of salary in dues. Another report from the bureau of labor statistics says that unionized workers in health care average wages about 14.3 percent higher than non-union. Not counting any gains in benefits, retirement, etc, the wage gains average about 10 times the amount of dues. That's only speaking of the union I know best. Our dues run on the high side, but I tend to think they are made up for by the gains. Some other unions have been equally successful in setting high standards of wages and benefits, others not so much so.