Union or non?

Endless discussion threads....

As for me "I am a union man"

In Solidarity

im am solidly union here; they need to be ready to fight for the rank and file, however and not just an extension of management.

An inury to one is an injury to all............

I think it depends on the facility the union and the rep. I work at a union hospital..and it's great. But...my last semester of nursing school I did my preceptorship at a union hospital and they hated the union. Their issues were never addressed and they were just unhappy about dues.

I think I get every penny's worth from my union where I am.

When you feel you are incapable of sticking up for yourself.. When you feel you need someone else to fight your battles... When you give up your right to work hard for advancement and replace it with advancing people with more senoirity....When you think that you less to offer than your education or professional license provides...And lastly when you think your coworker's needs to provide for his/her family is greater and more important than your own.. Then and only then vote for a union....

But, if you are willing to take ownership of your life and career and stop whining about how unfair life is... If you take credit for working hard, being accountable and acknowledge the fact that you have alot to offer, especially in a time of nursing shortage.. Then a union is not for you...

Come on guys.. Don't short change yourselves.. You are all educated professionals. act like it!

When you feel you are incapable of sticking up for yourself.. When you feel you need someone else to fight your battles... When you give up your right to work hard for advancement and replace it with advancing people with more senoirity....When you think that you less to offer than your education or professional license provides...And lastly when you think your coworker's needs to provide for his/her family is greater and more important than your own.. Then and only then vote for a union....

But, if you are willing to take ownership of your life and career and stop whining about how unfair life is... If you take credit for working hard, being accountable and acknowledge the fact that you have alot to offer, especially in a time of nursing shortage.. Then a union is not for you...

Come on guys.. Don't short change yourselves.. You are all educated professionals. act like it!

In a perfect world...YES..non union would be great. But- non union doesn't mean you advance for hard work. Often it means only that good negotiation gets more $$..and hardworking but timid nurses make less. I'm all for knowing when and how much my next raise will be.

Unions are a facility by facility slug fest.

The only real choice is for a national group with enough membership (votes) and money to influence state and national policy.

We need staffing ratios set because every patient deserves safe care, and the facilities won't do it on their own.

We need legislated ratios because legal consequences are the only thing facilities listen to.

Lastly, we need a national force because our own "leaders" won't, or can't, stick up for us.

Bedside nurses, particularly med-surg and tele nurses, but also LTC staff and other vulnerable nursing groups, have no one representing them.

We need to be nurses protecting ourselves.

Sorry if I never felt the need to stand on a picket line, when I can go to 50 more places to get a new job at the drop of a hat...What other profession allows you to get a job by simply walking into a facility and doing a background check and filing a shift need. Nurses can't even collect unemployment in my state, because there are more jobs than qualified nurses. Wake up!.. Nurses are in demand right now.. Think about it.. What other profession can you work in and make the money you are making, on a 2 year education? The answer is not many!

Again, I say stop whining and get back to work...and if this job doesn't suit you, there are plenty of others that might.

Sorry if I never felt the need to stand on a picket line, when I can go to 50 more places to get a new job at the drop of a hat...What other profession allows you to get a job by simply walking into a facility and doing a background check and filing a shift need. Nurses can't even collect unemployment in my state, because there are more jobs than qualified nurses. Wake up!.. Nurses are in demand right now.. Think about it.. What other profession can you work in and make the money you are making, on a 2 year education? The answer is not many!

Again, I say stop whining and get back to work...and if this job doesn't suit you, there are plenty of others that might.

Well, you are very fortunate. Many nurses work in locations that do not have that flexibility. If they don't like their working conditions (and many don't), the next facility may be 20, 30, 40 or more miles away.

I agree, facilities don't care what degree you have, and nursing is a wonderful opportunity to make money.

But our job is more than money. If we allow conditions which jeopordize our patients safety, it doesn't matter how much we are paid.

I'm glad you are so self confident and happy....many are not.

You don't have to walk a picket line to support the CNA/NNOC. You only have to care what happens to your peers and profession.

Well, you are very fortunate. Many nurses work in locations that do not have that flexibility. If they don't like their working conditions (and many don't), the next facility may be 20, 30, 40 or more miles away.

I agree, facilities don't care what degree you have, and nursing is a wonderful opportunity to make money.

But our job is more than money. If we allow conditions which jeopordize our patients safety, it doesn't matter how much we are paid.

I'm glad you are so self confident and happy....many are not.

You don't have to walk a picket line to support the CNA/NNOC. You only have to care what happens to your peers and profession.

While it is true some nurses who live and work in rural areas have less choices, the same cannot be true for city hospitals. I've always felt that if you don't like what you do or where you work, change it. And while it is very noble of you to worry about patient safety, how many worry about this when they are told to strike and go out on a picket line? Don't down play this issue, as it it very real and I have lived thru this senerio many times...as a scab.

And yes I am very happy.. I work at home full time for one of those evil insurance companies.. but that's another thread!....

While it is true some nurses who live and work in rural areas have less choices, the same cannot be true for city hospitals. I've always felt that if you don't like what you do or where you work, change it. And while it is very noble of you to worry about patient safety, how many worry about this when they are told to strike and go out on a picket line? Don't down play this issue, as it it very real and I have lived thru this senerio many times...as a scab.

And yes I am very happy.. I work at home full time for one of those evil insurance companies.. but that's another thread!....

I too have mixed feelings about striking, but it is the only weapon unions have to deal with administrations.

It is not SOME nurses who have less choices, it is MANY nurses who have less choices. Most of America is not urban.

It is even more nurses who are indirectly and diresctly intimidated by administrations, nursing administration included. They work in hostile environments with little representation either from their peers, their Management, or their profession.

We need to change that.

Hospitals don't want an organized nurse workforce, it scares the living hell out of them.

I applaud any group of nurses who organize themselves to stand up, and support them in whatever union they fell is best to represent them. That said, it's time we start thinking nationally and stop being so self centered.