"Scabs"

Specialties Travel

Published

Why do nurses take these assignments???? Especially in this day and age when most strikes are about benefit levels, staffing ratios, working conditions???

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

For the money, which can be quite lucrative, especially if you can tolerate major OT.

Because they do not know better. When I worked with the travel company known as the "Evil Empire", they were notorious for getting travelers stuck contracted to facilities w/impending strikes without warning the traveler, before they took the contract. I am sure that the company got big bucks and the traveler would be obligated to the regular rate.

Because some (some, not all, not even most) may have poor work histories and difficulty getting a "regular" job.

Because some nurses on staff at regular jobs decide to make big bucks on their 2-3 week "vacation" block.

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Please note that I do not work strikes and will not work strikes, and will not work for a company that staffs strikes. I do not like "scabs".

But there are very legit reasons for nurses working in that field.

not for me either,,,,,each to their own,

but personally if these hospitals used the money that they pay the agencys to bring the nurses in then the strike would soon be resolved.

Specializes in Critical Care.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f54/anyone-staffed-strikes-6212-6.html

Nursing IS different then other jobs. At other jobs, there are tons of non-union workers willing and able to 'steal' a union worker's job for less money. Scabs undermine a strike by allowing management to continue without a hitch or cost.

There are no scabs in nursing. Crossing the line costs hospitals far more than any other thing a union could hope to happen.

The more nurses they can recruit in this fashion, the closer they can come to operating 'normal'. The needs of the community would normally demand that they spend with reckless abandon to do just that.

Spending with reckless abandon on temp workers has a way of encouraging appreciation for your own staff.

Like most strikes: money is the bottom line. Even safety issues come down to what they cost. Unions should be thrilled about the concept of hospitals bleeding money in this fashion.

Think about it this way: if I could fine you 100/day AND dis your reputation in order to get you to pony up 1000, how many days could you hold out? Unions should be ENCOURAGING this forced 'fine'. THAT will bring them to the table far faster than a few media stories. . .

Personally, I think making a fortune to cross a picket line IS keeping solidarity with those 'on the line'. Nothing will bring about the solution you desire as a union member FASTER then management having to spend MORE money then it would take to just settle the dispute.

Unlike non-professional jobs, management cannot simply wholesale replace workers. These workers aren't out to get YOUR jobs; they are just out to make a bundle off of management's stupidity. When all is said and done, your jobs remain safe, management bleeds like a sieve, and strikes cost so much for management to maintain, that they simple MUST return to the bargaining table faster.

~faith,

Timothy.

Specializes in Critical Care.
if these hospitals used the money that they pay the agencys to bring the nurses in then the strike would soon be resolved.

Yes, this is EXACTLY what you want management thinking.

And, hiring replacement workers for tons of money has a way of making management ponder more seriously the money involved in settling a strike.

It's simply short-sighted for professional union members to get worked up about the concept of management spending a fortune to continue a strike.

Professional union members get upset about replacement workers because THEY do not know better. In reality, nothing talks more in a strike then money. So, be THRILLED that your management has its jaws agape with every passing day they are throwing a fortune down the drain at replacement workers.

~faith,

Timothy.

We haven't had a thread about this subject in awhile.

Where is Tom when you need him?? :D

steph

Or Zen for that matter ;)

So, here are some links here at AllNurses:

Suzanne Gordons Book - opinions

Should Nurses Strike?

Highest Pay and Shortest Assaigments

https://allnurses.com/forums/f54/anyone-staffed-strikes-6212-6.html

Unlike non-professional jobs, management cannot simply wholesale replace workers. These workers aren't out to get YOUR jobs; they are just out to make a bundle off of management's stupidity. When all is said and done, your jobs remain safe, management bleeds like a sieve, and strikes cost so much for management to maintain, that they simple MUST return to the bargaining table faster.

~faith,

Timothy.

:yeahthat: I have to agree. These nurses aren't out to take your job and few of us would turn down an opportunity to make huge sums of money to do what we normally due for much less.

These nurses go through a lot to gain the opportunity by maintaining licensure and not knowing if there will be a strike until it actually happens and they get the 'go' from their agency (at which time they are on a plane within hours).

Once they arrive they are taunted and called names by the staff. Few are left to orient them to the units and they are often extremely short staffed when all they are really doing is taking a huge risk to take care of your regular patients and trying to do a good job as you would like it to be done.

The scabs are not your enemy. They want you to resolve your contract issues and get back to taking care of your patients WITH the benefit packages you deserve. In the meantime, they are trying not to have the patients suffer since they didn't agree to go on strike with their illnesses.

So what they soaked your management. Management will soon realize it's cheaper to give in to you then to continue paying their agency bills.

:So what they soaked your management. Management will soon realize it's cheaper to give in to you then to continue paying their agency bills.

It is my understanding these bills for Replacement Nurses are covered under insurance coverage.

Specializes in NICU.

Did the strike in Petoski MI ever get settled? We had a traveller that worked ther for 8 months or so, last I heard it was 3 years. That's a strange way to run a hospital.

Specializes in Critical Care.
It is my understanding these bills for Replacement Nurses are covered under insurance coverage.

Even so, so much the better for strikers.

Insurance companies don't just shell out millions of dollars with a shrug of their shoulders. They don't. They are in business to make money, as well.

First, they WILL recoup the cost with higher premiums.

2nd, they will be yet another voice at the table, pressuring management to end the strike.

Any such policy is NOT going to be an open checkbook for management. There will be many stipulations that force management continually back to the table. As a strike moves on, the implications to the cost of such a policy will surely dawn on both management, and the insurance company.

The result: pressure to end the strike BY management in order to manage the details and future costs of such a policy, AND pressure to end the strike TO management by the insurance company.

Don't mistake some policy as 'cart blanche' to spend millions. YOU have an insurance policy on your cars but that doesn't give you a right to purposely wreck them. Don't think for a second any such policies grant those kinds of rights to hospitals.

And don't think for a second that the hospital won't ultimately be liable for such costs, one way, or another.

~faith,

Timothy.

Uh, Tim... this is not personal....

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