Union or no union?

SteffersRN87, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2009

I can actually give you a doulbe-sided answer. I worked at a hospital with a union after graduating. I now work at a nonunion hospital in the same health system. A few things that I have noticed...

At the union hospital, dues were a % of your pay. And, I am sorry I can't remember the exact number. It was $72 out of one check per month. One of the big things with our union was the fight for staffing ratios, particularly on a post transplant med/surg unit and a cardiothoracic unit. I was an ICU nurse, so my max was always 2 without question. A girl that started with me had a seizure disorder that was very well-controlled and she gave night turn a try since she had never done so before. After a few of them, she had a seizure on her way home. Luckily she knew her aura and pulled over to safety. She got a doctor's note saying that she was not permitted to work night shift. She addressed this with the manager who then referred her to a union rep. Apparently, getting a day/evening gig is on a seniority basis. However, let it be known that our unit had a high turnover rate (no wonder) and generally at least half of the nurses on any given shift were float pool or from another unit. The union denied her day/evening and she quit. It was also stated in the contract that all inpatient nurses work every other weekend and every other holiday. No exceptions! And, you did not earn more for a specialty certification or BSN. Your salary is based on years of RN experience. Seniority counts!

The hospital I work at now is nonunion. We have a clinical ladder program (clinical nurse I, II, and III). You have to meet certrain criteria to progress in this program, and you are given monetary increases in addition to your yearly and cost of living raises. If you have or earn a BSN, you get an increase. If you get certified in a specialty, you also get a raise and get reimbursed for the exam. We work one weekend every 8 weeks because we have weekend staff who work 2 12's and get $36/hour for doing so. I work primarily outpatient but we do get inpatient overflow so our unit is open Monday through Friday 24/7. Our ratios are pretty good. And we are Magnent.

I just feel that a union hospital only cares about the numbers whereas nonunion hospitals take into account the whole picture.

TuTonka · Apr 29, 2009

Steffers could I ask what state your are in?

TuTonka

nursej22, MSN, RN · Apr 29, 2009

I work at a union hospital. Every contract is different regarding pay and scheduling. I receive a pay premium for my BSN, MN, and certification. I also get additional paid education hours to maintain my cert. Our contract states only that nurses are available to be scheduled every other weekend, some nurses do not work any, depending on their department.

A couple of years ago I was wrongly accused of sexual harassment by another nurse, her word against mine. The union helped me get the written disciplinary action rescinded.

Steffers, I am sorry about your friend, but I think your friend would have been covered by the ADA act. The hospital wimped out and blamed the union instead of following the law.

lindarn · Apr 29, 2009

I would like to make a comment. Here in Spokane, Deaconess Hospital was union free for years, and too many ofthe old school Diploma nurses were swayed by the hospital into not supporting a union.

Then came difficult financial times for the hospital and several years ago, the hospital instituted a 9% across the board pay cut. They have never gotten the entire pay cut back.

After that pay cut, other hospital departments saw the writing on the wall, and uniozed with SEIU. The few departments who were unionized at the time of the pay cuts did not have theie wages cut because they had contracts.

The hospital was bought out last year by a for profit hospital chain from Tenesee. They made a lot of promises, gave the nurses a 7% pay raise (in exchage for them voting out the union), fought and have not as yet bargained with the unions for new contracts.

Now the other hospital in the chain is trying to decertify the union, probably with "promises" by the hospital if the do. The Hospital has passed around letters trying encouraging them to decertify the union, and to prevent anyone else from unionizing. The Hospital has refused to negotiate with the union, their medical insurance is a self pay plan, and is awful, they have cut retirements, etc.

This is life with an anti union corporation from the south. The employees have no voice, no control, the working conditions are awful, etc.

You decide if that is the kind of atmosphere you want to work in.

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

NursSissy · Apr 29, 2009

I loved working for a union hospital. For 5 years I worked the same schedule and felt like like I had a voice in making decisions for us (nurses). Yes, we had to work every other holiday. But at least if I worked this Memorial day, I would know that next year I would have off. The nurse to pt. ratio was manageble and enforced. I currently work at a nonunion hospital that is top heavy with clinical managers and supervisors reminding us constantly how lucky we are to have jobs. I see them walking around. Not quite sure what they do except dream up more busy work for us. They put us on call when the cencus is low, but "Betty" who posts "todays menu" on the computer works her Monday - Friday 8-4. Yes there are union dues, mine were about 72 dollars a month but I didn't pay a thing for my health benefits and my scripts were a dollar. Not so at my current hospital.

TuTonka · Apr 29, 2009

I loved working for a union hospital. For 5 years I worked the same schedule and felt like like I had a voice in making decisions for us (nurses). Yes, we had to work every other holiday. But at least if I worked this Memorial day, I would know that next year I would have off. The nurse to pt. ratio was manageble and enforced. I currently work at a nonunion hospital that is top heavy with clinical managers and supervisors reminding us constantly how lucky we are to have jobs. I see them walking around. Not quite sure what they do except dream up more busy work for us. They put us on call when the cencus is low, but "Betty" who posts "todays menu" on the computer works her Monday - Friday 8-4. Yes there are union dues, mine were about 72 dollars a month but I didn't pay a thing for my health benefits and my scripts were a dollar. Not so at my current hospital.

Why did you change jobs?

CJsGirlRN · Apr 30, 2009

I really appreciate all of your feedback. I actually did work for a union hospital before coming to the hospital I work at now. The union we had was JNESO. It was helpful in some ways but not so much in others. The reason I'm not sure about unions v. non unions is because I have only worked at one other hospital, and when I was hired there I was automatically in the union. I was not part of the process as it became union. Now, at the hospital I am at now, I actually get to see the process as it happens with voting. Our hospital is holding meetings every week that they are making us go to trying to get us to vote "no". However, to go to a meeting "pro union" it is off campus. Really interesting how they try to persuade you both sides just by wording things a certain way too. Idk, its so confusing sometimes.

NursSissy · Apr 30, 2009

I moved out of state with my family for my husband. Down South where there are few unions.

momatwork · Jun 7, 2009

I have worked at both. In the union hospital, dues were 1% of your gross salary plus an additional fee out of each paycheck. No BSN,MSN pay...no RNC extra pay......everyone received the same raise regardless of whether there just made do, or went the extra mile..... A strike happened about 8 years before ( I was not there) the tension and bitterness still pervade.... The non-union where I am now..I love! BSN,MSN,RNC pay, even for per diems! As an employee, they take what your insurance pays, and don't seek more (I have my spouse's benefits). Higher tuition reimbursement, and the pay is better. I can go right up and talk to any of the administration...and no threat of strikes!!!!!

momatwork · Jun 7, 2009

I am not a fan of HPAE. They lament respect, but when they attempted to represent nurses at my hospital used the most dirty tactics I've ever seen. Arriving unannounced at my home, calling me on my home and cell at all hours...... The pro union nurses tried to intimidate others.........they were rude and made the environment very stressful. They insulted administration and interrupted meetings, also posted salaries of them in a feeble attempt to say they are here for respect, not the almighty dollar..........they didn't post the union president's salary however..over $135,000, and more as she is a vp of the AFT as well..... or show her percs, such as travel, hotel, cars and expenses..............1% of my gross.not a chance!!!!!!!!!!!