Union Wins Decertification Election at Scripps, CNA Stays

[Sheri257]

Nurses at Scripps Encinitas voted this week to keep the California Nurses Association as their union representative. The opponents had tried to launch a decertification effort to eliminate CNA but, according to the hospital's anti-union website, CNA won the vote.

http://www.notinourhouse.org/ (See posting on the message board)

So much for all of the predictions that union decertifications will be sweeping the state of California.

While the vote was close, it's not surprizing that a majority of RN's ultimately felt they'd still do better with the union, despite all the controversy with no contract, strikes, etc.

IMHO, I think the hospital made a mistake by enlisting doctors, non-nurses and anti-union nurses from other hospitals to campaign against the union. You risk offending RN's when people who don't do the job, or people who don't even work there, to try to tell you how to vote on your particular job situation. In my opinion, it probably cost the hospital the election.

Anyway ... just thought everybody would like to know the latest news since decertification has been a hot topic in this forum.

[fergus51]

I may have "anti-circumcision, pro-union" added to my profile;). I completely get what Caroladybelle is saying. We tend to listen more to people who don't seem two dimensional and if we only discuss one issue, it's easy to appear that way. Plus, I have waaaaaaaayyyyyy too much of a big mouth to just post on one topic! The BB has a lot more to offer:)

[ZASHAGALKA, RN]

I posted on this topic before on the other thread about it before the vote.

I live in Texas where the laws make it very difficult for unions to take seed.

And I expressed my concerns that unions become just another self-interested party and the bedside nurse is left w/ 2 bureaucracies to deal with.

But I'd have to respect that vote. If that's what the nurses want, then the benefits must outweigh the negatives, in their opinions (and I'm not there, so their opinions are the only ones that count).

And I'm not completely anti-union (and I post on lots of topics): I just feel like the negatives outweigh the benefits - but that's an opinion call.

I guess congrats are in order.

On both sides though: y'all keep the faith.

~faith,

Timothy.

[Sheri257]

I as well as many many other nurses feel that the CNA does not represent the profession of nursing well. The strikes, the angry rantings in the streets, the truly unprofessional interruptions at press conferences.

I don't understand this. For one thing, the public doesn't have a problem with it. Since CNA started the protests, Schwarzenegger's approval rating has dropped from the high '60s to the low 30's. Obviously the public agrees with CNA since they were the first group who was aggressively out front against the governator.

If the public doesn't have a problem with the so-called "angry rantings" and "unprofessional interruptions" then, why do you? Maybe the public doesn't actually it as unprofessional at all. If the public didn't agree with CNA's tactics, then I could see your point but, obviously, the polls show it's only hurt Schwarzenegger's image, not nurses.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I don't understand this. For one thing, the public doesn't have a problem with it. Since CNA started the protests, Schwarzenegger's approval rating has dropped from the high '60s to the low 30's. Obviously the public agrees with CNA since they were the first group who was aggressively out front against the governator.

If the public doesn't have a problem with the so-called "angry rantings" and "unprofessional interruptions" then, why do you? Maybe the public doesn't actually it as unprofessional at all. If the public didn't agree with CNA's tactics, then I could see your point but, obviously, the polls show it's only hurt Schwarzenegger's image, not nurses.

Hi Lizz - actually in reading the above all I could think about is the nurse with her index finger in the air testing the wind of public opinion.

I could not care less what "the public" thinks about CNA and actually we don't really know what they think of CNA specifically, just Arnold, because I haven't seen any polls yet about how the public sees CNA and therefore how they see nurses.

However, I base my opinions on my own value system and not what the public thinks. And it bugs me that politicians bow to the polls too - if it goes against their conscience, they go anyway because otherwise they wouldn't be popular with the public.

My son is majoring in Political Science and one of the things we talk about alot is the tendency of folks who get into politics to let go of their principles for popularity sake.

I liked it better when he was going to be a history teacher and football coach. :) But I guess to be consistent, he can't bend to my will either.

steph

[pickledpepperRN]

ZASHAGALKA: I agree with you. If a significant number of union members at a facility are not active there will be little benefit in having a union. I think it is always best to have a written set of rules (contract) that cannot be changed at the whim of management or new owners. Also discipline for just cause is a good thing if done fairly. I've worked where people threaten to call the union for minor things. OR refuse to work saying, "I'll report you to the union."

In my experience the CNA has not protected the jobs of unsafe nurses. I won't give details in case she sees this post. A nurse was warned twice, then terminated. She was actually a nice person in the wrong job. The union negotiated for her to resign and receive a neutral recommendation if the hospital was contacted by a future potential employer.

NOW regarding professionalism. I am not at all embarrassed that I joined with thousands of fellow nurses for safe staffing. I participated in the two "Nurses March on Washington" events too.

In 2003 we registered nurses of the CNA had been demonstrating for safe staffing ratios for more than a decade. It WAS before the Governor tried to worsen staffing regulations in the ER, prevent improvements in med-surg, and eliminate the Board of Registered Nursing.

Steph: i know you are an independent thinker who is now swayed by peer pressure. I also know you can and have changed your mind when more facts became available.

I can't find links but the Harris and Gallup polls for California and the entire USA had nurses # 1 in trust and overall approval. Our approval is as high as it was before the Governor took the advice of his corporate donors and claimed safe staffing is an "emergency". Here is why I think our polling is unchanged and the Governors has dropped:

This Governor has attacked nurses, teachers, firefighters, and law enforcement by trying to label us "special interests".

1. We nurses, teachers, school workers, fire fighters, and law enforcement officers are the public advocates against corporate power that measures the value of human life with a cash register.

We give political voice and moral authority to all, whether they be students, hospital patients, or victims of natural disasters or crime. Most people have had personal contact with us.

2. To nurses, patients are not entitled to only the care they can afford, nor is a Republican, a Democrat, or a welfare mother and her children entitled to less care. Everyone deserves a safe, effective standard of care.

Nurses bring hope to those who are most vulnerable and the knowledge that they are not alone. To billionaire corporate CEOs, we will always be in the way.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ICC/is_9_71/ai_101859688

PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS

In the Gallup Poll the public was asked to rate certain occupations for honesty and ethical standards. The survey was topped by nurses and followed by military officers, high school teachers, clergy, policemen, druggists, medical doctors and funeral directors.

79 percent of the public rate nurses high or very high for honesty and ethics.

http://www.nurseweek.com/news/features/02-06/image.asp

...A poll by Vanderbilt University's Medical Center's School of Nursing

and Center for Health Services Research in Nashville, Tenn., showed that 95 percent of Americans

overwhelmingly trust, respect and admire nurses, and that 83 percent would encourage a loved one to enter the nursing profession....

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Spacenurse - I do know about the polls that find the public trusting nursing and nurses.

I was responding specifically to Lizz - and her statements about Arnold's approval rating and the public's perception of CNA.

The people who were protesting against Arnold ARE special interest groups and there isn't anything wrong with that . . . . they just don't represent all nurses or all teachers. So when Arnold was making comments about those specific people who followed him around, he was talking specifically about them. Not all nurses. Not all teachers.

I have enjoyed learning from this bulletin board and have tempered my opnions at times.

steph

[ali_gator]

Pardon me, Sherwoood. But when I was still working in a hospital, I too, worked with my heart. Unfortunately, I am not a volunteer. I am a licensed medical professional and expect and deserve conpensation like everyone else. Do you ask your physicians to work for less that others, so that they can "work with their heart not a paycheck"? Why are nurses the only ones who are expected to work with their hearts and not a weekly paycheck? And we are seen as mercenaries for expecting just compensation for our education, knowledge, expertise and hard work. There are enough martyr marys out there in nursing without you encouraging more of them, and making disparaging remarks against those of us who fight and support the actions of nurses who do want to better the profession.

New grads are leaving the profession in droves due to the working conditions, pay and benefits. It is completely irresponsible of you to encourage actions that diminish and discourage the work of the nurses who have made so many positive changes in the profession. No other organization or individual has done as much. Actions speak louder than words.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Lindarn makes a good point. As long as nurses treat their profession as virtue work, fighting tooth and nail against those who want to help, working conditions and salaries will never improve.

Sorry, but with all the time and money I'm investing in my education, I want to be respected and paid well. Nurses need to take care of themselves first, and drop the self-sacrificing angel routine. Why is it unprofessional to strike, or participate in some kind of protest? Other professions fight for what is theirs. What's the problem with nurses simply trying to get what they deserve?

[pickledpepperRN]

Steph:

I owe you an apology. I made a horrible typo.

I typed, "Steph: i know you are an independent thinker who is now swayed by peer pressure."

I meant to type, "I know you are NOT swayed by peer pressure.

I'm sorry.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Steph:

I owe you an apology. I made a horrible typo.

I typed, "Steph: i know you are an independent thinker who is now swayed by peer pressure."

I meant to type, "I know you are NOT swayed by peer pressure.

I'm sorry.

I knew that hon - :) :kiss

steph

[pickledpepperRN]

http://www.calnurse.org/?Action=Content&id=1074

August 19, 2005

Federal Labor Board Cites Scripps for Repeated Labor Law Violations - Ongoing pattern of denying nurses freedom of speech, failure to bargain in good faith...

[Nancy2]

http://www.calnurse.org/?Action=Content&id=1074

August 19, 2005

Federal Labor Board Cites Scripps for Repeated Labor Law Violations - Ongoing pattern of denying nurses freedom of speech, failure to bargain in good faith...

Thank you for MORE CNA propaganda.

Always consider the source. :)

[fergus51]

Thank you for MORE CNA propaganda.

Always consider the source. :)

So are you saying they weren't cited by the labor board?