Union?

TazziRN, RN · Apr 19, 2006

Pro: representation, no firing at will, gauranteed benefits.

Con: hmm........

burn out · Apr 19, 2006

Pro: representation, no firing at will, gauranteed benefits.
Con: hmm........

If you work in a state that is "at will" it doesn't matter if you are union or not..you can get fired just because your employer wants to fire you and there is nothing a union can do about that.

Con: I don't know of any nursing unions otherwise you are counting on meat packer or electricians or teamster to negoiate your pay, job etc. What do they know about nursing, what do they about nurse/patient ratio? If the union is coming in brand new there is no guarantees about anything the first time they go to the table, your pay can go up or down, benefits can be changed . The lets talk about union dues and all the other hidden cost they don't bother to tell you about, steward fees etc. Who is going to pay your bills when nurse go out on strike with their brother teamster or whatever union you decided to join . I don't see any security with that.

What do you do with the nursing shortage the way it is now? With a union

representing you they are telling your employer that only you (employees of that hospital that they represent)can do the staffing ..no agency nurses coming in to help out with the shortage- there is not enough nurses now t ogo around how are we going to do this without agency nurses to help out? There are alot of problems that the government can not even work out I don't think the answer is going to be found in unions.m

midnightRN · Apr 20, 2006

I do know the union in question has a long history of representing nurses. They have represented another local hospital for quite a few years. The other hospital's nurses are very satisfied, from the few nurses I know that work there. I'm interested, but worried I might get fired for "signing up".

kukukajoo, LPN · Apr 20, 2006

I posted this question and more last nite- we must think alike! Here is the link to the other thread. I still don't have a clear picture but people are helping me understand.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/union-non-union-153904.html

danigirl58 · Apr 20, 2006

if you work in a state that is "at will" it doesn't matter if you are union or not..you can get fired just because your employer wants to fire you and there is nothing a union can do about that.
con: i don't know of any nursing unions otherwise you are counting on https://allnurses.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1612928meat packer or electricians or teamster to negoiate your pay, job etc. what do they know about nursing, what do they about nurse/patient ratio? if the union is coming in brand new there is no guarantees about anything the first time they go to the table, your pay can go up or down, benefits can be changed . the lets talk about union dues and all the other hidden cost they don't bother to tell you about, steward fees etc. who is going to pay your bills when nurse go out on strike with their brother teamster or whatever union you decided to join . i don't see any security with that.
what do you do with the nursing shortage the way it is now? with a union
representing you they are telling your employer that only you (employees of that hospital that they represent)can do the staffing ..no agency nurses coming in to help out with the shortage- there is not enough nurses now t ogo around how are we going to do this without agency nurses to help out? there are alot of problems that the government can not even work out i don't think the answer is going to be found in unions.m

um i'm not sure about some of your thoughts. i think it depends on where you come from and how strong your union is as well as how proactive those in the union are. i'm from canada and where i am my union is comprised of nurses (voted in by nurses .. and i might add that an lpn was just voted in as president of the union) to fight for nurses rights. as far as agency nurses all the hospitals and ltc facilities use agency staff ..... these are all union facilities.

TazziRN, RN · Apr 20, 2006

California Nurses Association is a very strong union here in CA. Sorry, but the "at will" claim is not true; non-union hospitals can fire at will, union cannot once you are past your probation. Termination has to be for a pretty darned good reason or after multiple attempts at correction. If it weren't for the union my previous employer would have fired me for something that I didn't do but I needed a chance to prove it. Having the union protecting me gave me that chance.