Union or Non-union?

[GottaBeanRN]

I'd love to hear everyone's opinions concerning unionized hospitals vs non-union. I'll be graduating in Dec and debating about which to apply to.

Thanks

[Headhurt, ADN]

I work in a hospital that has a nurse's union. However, I also work in a "right-to-work" state, which means that I have the option of joining the union, or being union-free at the same hospital. I haven't decided if I am joining the union...but I probably will. One thing I noticed, whatever the union does, it affects all the nurses who work their whether they belong to union or not.

Most of the people I talk to like the union, and like the security it provides.

Good luck in school!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I have mixed feelings about unions. I believe that they are sometimes necessary, but it is my preference to work in hospitals without them. My personal experience has been that the pay and benefits are better in the unionized hospital, but the relationship between staff and management is worse. The union was able to win some good things for the staff, but there was a price to pay -- and that price was the existence of an "us against them" culture.

My preference is to work for a non-unionized hospital that treats its staff well because it is the right thing to do and everyone wins. There are hospitals like that and I work for one now. They are worth looking around a little for.

llg