To strike or not to strike?

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(Originally posted in Washington, DC Nurses but this also a general nursing issue!)

I'm a junior nurse at Washington Hospital Center and feel really stressed and conflicted regarding today's planned one-day National Nurses United (NNU) strike. Background information: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/04/AR2011030401496.html

As mentioned in the Washington Post article, management is requiring all RNs to report to work today whether or not they're scheduled to determine who is striking. Management has stated that nurses who do not report to work and "check in" will be assumed to be striking and will not be allowed to return to work until Wednesday, March 9. I'm not scheduled to work until this weekend, and am unsure whether to go in today. I'm hesitant to put myself into a situation where I am asked to work unscheduled overtime with replacement nurses unfamiliar with my unit, the hospital, or our patient population. I spoke with a co-worker this morning and was told that unit leaders and managers will supervise the replacement RNs, but will not be providing patient care. Likewise, I do not want to place myself in a situation where patient safety or my safety could be compromised, nor do I want to face the hostility of the picket line. Since our affiliation with NNU last fall, union members have been very assertive in their displeasure with WHC's management as well as stalled contract negotiations. In recent weeks, I had to ask some NNU members to back off and stop contacting me because the information flood from NNU and WHC management was overly stressing me and giving me a headache. I feel like whatever I decide, I'll have to deal with hostility from either NNU or WHC management. I do not completely agree with either side, but I strongly feel like something must change, as the hospital has been moving in a downward spiral for several months. We're losing our credibility as well as excellent, qualified nurses who have had enough.

My friends and colleagues are divided regarding their decision to strike. I respect those nurses who feel they have no choice but to cross the picket line because they're their family's sole breadwinner. Few of these colleagues are happy with the tone of our work environment, but they can't afford to lose a week's pay. While I disagree with upper-level management's unilateral, sudden policy changes and their sometimes unfair treatment of nurses during my employment, I like my immediate managers and have a positive relationship with them. I know that my unit will not have a complete walkout, and I do not want to burn bridges with my managers if I'm among the striking nurses.

If I choose to strike, I will miss two days of work (which I can live with financially), have a few days to clear my head, and feel good about sticking it to WHC management. One of our nurses was recently quoted as comparing our situation to domestic violence, which I found to be somewhat extreme, but I agree with the principle: If you are living or working in an unsafe situation, you must leave and demand better treatment. For me, the strike isn't about money. It's about standing up for what's right and fixing what is lacking in my work environment: adequate, consistently safe staffing based on patient acuity and management's respect and recognition for the challenging work we do.

On the other hand, I may lose the favor of my managers and, while unlikely, have a nagging feeling that if not all nurses walk out, striking nurses are setting themselves up for possible discipline. Some of you may dismiss my concern as ridiculous, but a quick Google search of "WHC fires nurses" will tell you that our RNs have been written up for "insubordination" and fired for legitimate reasons like not being able to drive to work in a snow catastrophe. However, I realize that while federal law states that it's illegal to fire striking workers, employers can legally replace them. While I'm not planning on keeping this job forever, it was my first RN position following graduation. It took several months and a significant relocation for me to find and begin this job. I'm not prepared to lose it, and do not want to jeopardize my employment status.

For those of you who have worked or not worked during previous strikes, any words of wisdom? What lessons did you learn? Any thoughts for or against strike participation? All perspectives are appreciated, but I ask that this please not turn into a flame war. This situation is stressful enough. Thank you for your feedback!

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Since your heart is not into either one don't participate in the strike nor going into work because you're already scheduled off. Take a mental break and recup. Realize that you are caught in the middle and mangement will usually retaliate secretly. It's best to move on out of a hostile environment than risk discipline, screwed up job record and burnt bridges. Nursing have so many other facets to go into other than floor nursing. I was terminated yrs ago and picketing was encouraged by a small minority org. I declined because if I went back and fought it, it would be hostile and short-lived. If I didn't particpate, the damage was already done and the manager was determined to not look bad. So the hearing sided with the manager and I just moved on. That was 16 yrs ago. It's unfortunate that a person or people can ruin a great job situation but that is life. The job can easily hide behind the laws and say it was other factors that lead them to discipline you. So if you have years to fight with an attorney, most will be hard to prove. It is so complex and unfair these days. Sometimes you can't change the world but learn to change what you can and know the difference. I am partly reciting the Serenity Prayer. Change what you can and accept what you can't.

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Hard to say!! Management wil prob have the hate on anyways! Many yrs ago my dads company (nothing medical) went on strike, lasted awhile too. Few of the employees crossed the line to work--they were pretty much frowned upon by the other employees for a LONG time after the strike was over!! In their eyes, they went out on strike, without pay(except strike pay) and got the improved work conditions and raises! And those that crossed the line, still got to enjoy the raises! So I can see why other employees would be ticked!! Hooped if you do, hooped if you do not! I think i rather have management ticked off with me than my co-workers--as I see them a lot more, and they help me out a lot more! Just my 2 cents

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Just my $0.02 but striking in this day and age is equivalent to a toddler throwing a temper tantrum IMHO.

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

Depends on if you believe in what they are striking for. Years ago a hospital I used to work for wanted to strike because the hospital didn't want to pay it's home care nurses the same as staff nurses. I actually agreed with the hospital and voted against it because I didn't agree with it and our union leaders were 3/4 home care nurses so I felt their motives were self serving. Not only that I was just out of nursing school and had bills to pay. The strike was a avoided because the hospital caved, but I would have crossed if needed to.

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I would not cross a picket line, either as an employee, or as a replacement worker.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
Just my $0.02 but striking in this day and age is equivalent to a toddler throwing a temper tantrum IMHO.

In this case the "toddler" is throwing a "temper tantrum" over dangerous staffing conditions that have put many pt's in unsafe situations as well as fighting a 20% paycut. So yeah if that's your view of a "temper tantrum." I view it as nurse's standing up for themselves and their pts.

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If you are unhappy with your employer, go find another job! You cannot change the world. Things in this world will not bend according to your whim. If you are truly concerned about the patients' safety, write your BON about it or write your congressman.

In this economy, it's hard to get a job. Employers can easily terminate you and come up with another reason of course why they are doing that. Will your co-workers feed you and let you into their homes if you lose your job and don't have any money?

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Specializes in ER.

Management will divide and conquer, the only way to respond to that tactic is to stand behind your coworkers. I would not go in

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

It all depends on how strongly you feel about striking. I've never been in a strike situation before so I think it would be something to think very carefully about.

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Specializes in FNP.

Honor your word and commitments and you will never be in the wrong.

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You cannot change the world.

CNA(NNU) HAS made huge change in places like California. Don't discount the possibilities.

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