UNION

[myda922]

Our hospital has recently cried that they are in the red because of low reimbursement issues. Now they are taking it out on the nurses that have worked for years at same place. Lately I have seen & heard many very upset and discouarged RNs. We are currently looking at PESA Union, (teachers & prof union), it sounds great but I have had problems with unions before. Any comments, opinions? I'm almost to the point of going for the traveling career, although I really enjoy the doctors & staff I work with.

[squeek]

I agree with talaxandra, go the Anf (Australian Nursing Federation), I too am a union rep (recently recruited) ... as well as fighting for conditions and pay rates, they represent you when you are in trouble, ie workcover for me .... employer appeared to want me out of theatre but the ANF helped me fight to stay there. The ANF also offers some incentives to members, just small things but worth having, cheap health insurance, travel insurance, movie tickets ... etc etc

unions are definately not the saviours of the universe but they sure help.... our union has negotiated zero tolerance to violence policy, no lift policy, on call allowances, occ health and safety improvements and more

the union, any union is only as strong as its members, without them the union is nothing. 1 nurse fights an establishment = establishment wins, 200 or 7000 nurses fight the same establishment ....... nurses will only achieve more by standing together.

the ANF has a poster out at the moment, we have just completed our enterprise bargaining agreement here in South Aus, over the past 10 years they have fought and won for nurses wage increases totalling over $380 per week in comparison to the offered amount of approx $42 ....

speaks for itself really.

go the nurses union!!! :rotfl:

[Sarah, RNBScN]

I'm the opposite end of the spectrum. I won't work a non-union job anymore. Been there, done that, no plans on going back. I have no problem with people calling unions unprofessional cause I care more about working conditions and wages and benefits than I do about a label. I prefer union, but my unions have always been nurse only unions.

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I agree with Fergus. I worked in a non-union position where you were treated differently...depending on who you know, etc...I am in a union hospital and regardless...you are all treated equally...it is my union that will protect me when I file a workload grievance for unsafe staffing, nurse patient ratio , etc...Management when on call, do not return pages or calls??? Who is concerned regarding patient safety and liability? NURSES