Union

RN4MERCY · Feb 9, 2004

The California Nurse's Association is the BEST Pro- RN Association in the Universe. Do your homework. These are trying times for all of us and the bullies and unionbusters work to create confusion and fear among the unorganized. Do your homework. All unions are not alike. Whistleblower laws do little to protect the individual. You are right to fear backlash and retaliation. The so-called nursing shortage is a self-inflicted wound brought about by savage management and hostile workplace practices. Many careers have been ruined. Don't go in to their den alone. The dues are worth it. Many hands make the work light. We are making history with safe RN to patient Ratios, and the best contracts protecting our wages, healthcare, retirement, and working conditions in the world. Join us. We have affiliate chapters in many states. We share the tools, we share the love of what we do. A voice for nurses, A vision for healthcare @www.calnurses.org

donmurray · Feb 9, 2004

I don't know if 350,000 members is still the biggest RN union in the world, but it lives in the UK.

http://www.rcn.org.uk

Click on "why join" for info on what a union can do for you.

-jt · Feb 9, 2004

Lots of discussion has been posted on this topic. Two recent threads you might find some answers in are:

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=55695&highlight=would+you+join+a+union

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53582&highlight=would+you+join+a+union

also, if youre an RN, check out the website of the national labor union for RNs only - the United American Nurses (UAN/AFL-CIO). With over 100,000 members, it's run by & for working RNs - so far in 27 states, several of them in the South - including Florida.

http://Http://www.UANnurse.org

Click on their NURSES ORGANIZE page for info on how to go about unionizing.

music · Feb 11, 2004

With One Voice Here is another way to think. I have spent the last 14 months researching unions and especially one in particular. Most of the union organizers are not nurses but make more money than new grads. It's a BIG business and you need to read between the lines and think for yourself.

Many nurses feel they want to speak for themselves. Some prefer to trust that to others. Think about it. Research it carefully and then, no matter which side you land on, support your colleagues with respect and professionalism and choose to agree to disagree when necessary.

Each hospital is different and needs vary. We are all in this together no matter what. Just remember there are two sides for all stories.

http://WWW.ONEVOICE-OURVOICE.COM

Keep the light shining!

MUSIC

RN4MERCY · Mar 30, 2005

Here's a little light for you...

Your hospital pays at least 1% of it's gross income to belong to the healthcare association and it's nurse managers belong to the hospital association's nurse executive "yessum" squad. Their "ladies' auxilliary" of so-called nurse leaders are handmaidens who cradle the corporate agenda! They gave a lot of money to Arnold so he can help them kick your butt. The light is shining on the front door, and the governor is sneaking in the back door at one of the best hotels in your neighborhood. Your hospital spent millions, on union busters, and ripped the voice right out of the throat of the majority of your colleagues. There's the right side and the wrong side, and that was just plain wrong! And you think that's o.k.? By the way, most of the organizers in our union are RN members. We pay for professional organizers, just like you might pay for a CPA to do your taxes. It works for our voice, CNA, the loudest voice in the nation right now standing up for safe patient ratios and healthcare for all. Join RNs in making a real difference...

Get a grip and get a subscription at http://www.revolutionmag.com

music · Mar 30, 2005

Well...............here's a little light back at ya'

The professional approach works better with professional people.

Don't slam our hospital and then want us to join your union.

I happen to believe that everyone has the right to have a voice. If you choose to use your voice through being a member of the CNA, that's fine if it works for you. I choose to speak for myself. I respect ALL nurses. As a professional, I expect the same in return. You have every right to feel the way you do but everything you believe about those of us who are on the other side may not be exactly accurate. In order to make huge strides, we must all learn to talk and work together.

There are definitely two sides to this story. I know thousands of nurses read these postings. I hope they will think about some of the important points I am making here.

Only 60,000 out of over 300,000 nurses In California are part of this union. There are hospitals right now that have nurses filing for decertification from CNA. The divisive and manipulative tactics of your organizers especially don't fly with most professional nurses. Go to http://www.stopunions.com and read all about it. Yea, there's a pretty loud voice there for sure.

The statement Arnold made regarding kicking your butt was an unfortunate choice of words but brought about by a totally inappropriate and unprofessional display by a small group of CNA nurses (or organizers) who interrupted a large meeting that was celebrating the achievements of WOMEN. HOW STUPID. They certainly did not put nursing in a good light. That is not how I want to be portrayed to the public and there are many nurses across the country who feel the same way. I am smart enough to know he did not intend that comment to be directed toward all nurses........he was directing it at UNION tactics and he was correct.

Keep it professional and you'll be seen in a better light.

I don't want to see nurses in large groups carrying signs like a bunch of robots out on the sidewalk yelling and chanting. I would rather see a large group of nurses sitting around a conference table with the Governor talking about the REAL issues.

I think Governor Schwarzenneger is doing the right thing. I do not think he wants to kick my butt. He is actually listening and trying to help ALL hospitals. There are many hospitals in California who really have problems with staffing and the very stringent "at all times" ruling is just not realistic. I also feel the CHA is not the big bad ogre you make them out to be. We should ALL be working on this together. Everyone's voice is important. Hospitals, Union nurses and non union nurses need to come together and work as one.

And by the way, I have spent the last year listening to many nurses as to why they feel the need for a union. Some of them have very good reasons.

But, I point out to them that the union isn't going to come in and solve the problems they point out........Change comes from within and it is up to us to do that in each individual hospital............ourselves. . . TOGETHER

So shine a little light on those thoughts and thank you for sharing.

UnewmeB4 · Mar 30, 2005

Thank you for sharing your views.

I have heard nurses ranting and raving about how..."this place sucks...we get no respect...I am so sick of this...we need the union..." etc. My response (after being amused that they have the TIME to sit and complain) is to suggest they put their concerns in writing to someone who can change it. or, they have the opportunity to join a nursing or hospital committee, or, they can do a little research to find out what has worked for other floors, or hospitals, etc.

Needless to say, the chronic complainers never take me up on it. They are "too busy". No one is too busy if they truly care about something. You will always have a certain percentage of people who just like to complain. These tend to be the same people who, when the census is down, will play games on the computers, talk about their personal lives, or, sit and complain some more.

As for me, when I have a slower than normal shift, I will do research on nursing, or medical topics that interest me. If it is evening shift, I will find a pt without visitors and hang out with them.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Mar 30, 2005

I have heard nurses ranting and raving about how..."this place sucks...we get no respect...I am so sick of this...we need the union..." etc. My response (after being amused that they have the TIME to sit and complain) is to suggest they put their concerns in writing to someone who can change it. or, they have the opportunity to join a nursing or hospital committee, or, they can do a little research to find out what has worked for other floors, or hospitals, etc.
Needless to say, the chronic complainers never take me up on it. They are "too busy". No one is too busy if they truly care about something. You will always have a certain percentage of people who just like to complain. These tend to be the same people who, when the census is down, will play games on the computers, talk about their personal lives, or, sit and complain some more.

Agree with you 100%.

I've only been in management last 4 years out of 30 years in healthcare.

Severe shortage of nurses and therapists wanting to go into homecare in my area. Couple that with explosion of homecare requests coming to my agency that I've had to turn down business for safety + staffing reasons.

Therapy temporary backlog finally relieved with increase in Therapy pervisit pay; lack of new PT staff ongoing problem. So agency offered staff referral bounus $2,000 more than RN bonus to our staff 2 months ago. One office with ongoing RN shortage, staff told me last week how upset they were that sign-on bonus more for PT than nurses: typical nurses undervalued feeling. Asked if they told management how they felt--response was NO. So yesterday in a meeting with HR and CFO about my dept's staffing, I RAISED the issue. Sr Mgmt's response was they hadn't thought of that, lack of PT staff so severe and impacting bottom line is why they did staff referral bounus. "Gee. we can raise the referral bonus same for nurses".

Learning to talk and bargain WITH management is key to getting nurses needs recognized and issues addressed.

bluesky, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2005

The California Nurse's Association is the BEST Pro- RN Association in the Universe. Do your homework. These are trying times for all of us and the bullies and unionbusters work to create confusion and fear among the unorganized. Do your homework. All unions are not alike. Whistleblower laws do little to protect the individual. You are right to fear backlash and retaliation. The so-called nursing shortage is a self-inflicted wound brought about by savage management and hostile workplace practices. Many careers have been ruined. Don't go in to their den alone. The dues are worth it. Many hands make the work light. We are making history with safe RN to patient Ratios, and the best contracts protecting our wages, healthcare, retirement, and working conditions in the world. Join us. We have affiliate chapters in many states. We share the tools, we share the love of what we do. A voice for nurses, A vision for healthcare @www.calnurses.org

You need to build alliances with other unions, not cut them down. :stone

bluesky, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2005

Thank you for sharing your views.
I have heard nurses ranting and raving about how..."this place sucks...we get no respect...I am so sick of this...we need the union..." etc. My response (after being amused that they have the TIME to sit and complain) is to suggest they put their concerns in writing to someone who can change it. or, they have the opportunity to join a nursing or hospital committee, or, they can do a little research to find out what has worked for other floors, or hospitals, etc.
Needless to say, the chronic complainers never take me up on it. They are "too busy". No one is too busy if they truly care about something. You will always have a certain percentage of people who just like to complain. These tend to be the same people who, when the census is down, will play games on the computers, talk about their personal lives, or, sit and complain some more.
As for me, when I have a slower than normal shift, I will do research on nursing, or medical topics that interest me. If it is evening shift, I will find a pt without visitors and hang out with them.

Ultimately nursing committees still have to get permission from management to implement changes and have no contractual backup if management wants to discontinue the plan suddenly. Only unions have the power to bargain for real changes.

bluesky, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2005

With One Voice Here is another way to think. I have spent the last 14 months researching unions and especially one in particular. Most of the union organizers are not nurses but make more money than new grads. It's a BIG business and you need to read between the lines and think for yourself.
Many nurses feel they want to speak for themselves. Some prefer to trust that to others. Think about it. Research it carefully and then, no matter which side you land on, support your colleagues with respect and professionalism and choose to agree to disagree when necessary.
Each hospital is different and needs vary. We are all in this together no matter what. Just remember there are two sides for all stories.
http://WWW.ONEVOICE-OURVOICE.COM
Keep the light shining!
MUSIC

Well, my union is completely 100% run by nurse volunteers. From the executive board to the shop stewards, we are all nurses who work full time at Washington Hospital Center and our union hours are unpaid.