Union! yes/no

Noryn · Oct 17, 2007

Do a search, this issue has been debated many times on the board. Does you current employer treat you fairly? Is pay, staffing and working conditions adequate? If not then consider a union but that is no guarantee.

kstaffeil · Oct 17, 2007

I believe union status reduces nurses from professionals to tradesmen. CHanges and standards need to come from within our own profession and individually

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 17, 2007

I've worked in a union hospital ... and several that were not union. My preference is for non-union because of the "us against them" mentality that usually develops in a unionized environment. However, if my employer were abusing me, I would consider voting for unionization on the grounds that the environment was already terrible and unionizing was a "compromise" that might help a little.

So ... how bad is your work environment? Is it possible that the mere threat of unionization will be enough to shape things up a bit? ... or is it already a "poisoned" environment in which you need the union protection to get the basics of fair employee treatment?

AliRae · Oct 17, 2007

Find out more information. Who is the union that's trying to come in? Find one of their organizers and talk with them. What do they want to do for you? What are their goals in organizing you? Do they have a plan for starting to achieve some of those goals? We all know that change in the hospital machinery takes a LONG time, but having some kind of measurable plan is important before you jump on board with a union.

I can't remember the exact term for it, but my hospital's union is voluntary. You can be an employee of the hospital without being a voting member of the union. They pay non-union dues (less than us union folk) and aren't in the voting body, but they still get the same benefits and perk negotiated by the union. Lots of people see this as a good compromise. This way, should the union ever (heaven forbid!) go on strike, there's no moral or ethical obligation for those non-union members to walk the picket line.

What do you like about your hospital being non-union? I think that's a good place to start in your own thinking in the matter. If it's things that would change if a union rolled in, then vote against one.

However, if you're a new nurse or even a nurse with loads of experience who isn't terribly vocal, the idea of having a union to back you up in case of conflicts with management (for example), is very comforting.

Who would be on the board of this union? Would it be outside folk with nothing invested in your hospital who don't really know the issues? Or would you have nurses who work at your hospital serve on the board? This can be a key issue in getting a union who is truly working to serve your needs.

I just cant stress enough the importance of educating yourself about this topic. Let us know how it goes!

Freedom42 · Oct 17, 2007

I'd suggest getting a copy of a contract that the union has negotiated for another hospital. The prospective union is usually happy to provide one.

Pros of belonging to a union:

Job security for the competent (incompetent employees who remain on the job reflect poor management, not poor unions)

You can't be fired without cause

You know exactly what the rules and regulations of your employment are

You know what your obligations are and what your employer's obligations are

Your benefits cannot be taken away without warning

You know what you're going to be paid and when

(I could go on and on)

Cons of belonging to a union:

The union is as good and strong as the people who belong to it. Do you have potential members who are willing to pull your weight?

Cons of not belonging to a union:

You're an employee at will. If the new manager doesn't like your hair color and decides to let you go, you have no legal recourse.

TRAMA1RN · Oct 18, 2007

Having experienced at will employment at a poorly managed hospital Union yes!! Currently working for a non union very well managed facility Union No! Different situations get different responses.

Jane41 · Oct 18, 2007

I have recenctly contacted two unions to discuss events happening at our hospital. I would not want union in a normal situation in healthcare. However, recently we have had approximatel 12 nurses fired in the last 18 months. We only have around 150 nurses in our hospital and these nurses had all been employees for 15 or more years. Our disiplinary policy is really in question. But no one wants to question it because they might get fired!

James Huffman · Oct 18, 2007

I'm self-employed, and have been for years, so unions are not really my battle.

But unions seem to reduce nurses to the level of Teamsters. And I don't ultimately think that's good for us, or our patients.

However, having seen the toxic atmosphere that seems to persist in so many facilities where nurses work, I can understand the allure that unions have. You would think that hospital and nursing administrators would bend over backwards to create a climate that nurses would enjoy work, and have no interest in unions. But the reality is that administrations seem to be wanting to drive nurses into unions. It makes no sense.

TazziRN, RN · Oct 18, 2007

Union. California Nurses' Association is one of the strongest. They saved my job at my first facility.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Oct 18, 2007

I have been a union employee since my early 20s, and in spite of the fact that unions also support bad employees (HIGHLY unfortunate), I still would rather work with a union than without one; especially being a somewhat new LPN with one year of experience.

I can understand that unions do promote the 'us verses them' mentality, but from what I have seen in the private sector, this happens anyway. Actually, in the real world, I see it as just THEM (no matter who it is...the same rank or above/below), against ME. It is an unfortunate world where we have to cover to protect ourselves, even before the patients we care for. Management enforces rules that clearly do not support or protect nurses from my experience, and I would hate to see that a small mistake can actually cause me my job just because I wore the wrong color that day.

deeDawntee, RN · Oct 18, 2007

I started at a Unionized Hospital about 6 years ago and I will admit it was with some trepidation, I really didn't know much about Unions except that there seemed to be a lot of controversy around them.

I am still working for that hospital and I now firmly believe that it is the very best thing for nurses. I know for certain that my pay and my benefits and pt ratios etc etc would not be as good without the Union. I also have a real sense of comfort knowing that no one in management can mess with me, I always have the Union standing beside me.

I have not done a thorough study, but looking at the best salaries across the country, the states with strong Unions have the highest salaries...I don't think that is a coincidence.

I know some of the conservative states are VERY anti-Union and those are also some of the states with very low salaries for nurses. I also don't think it is a coincidence.

These, of course, are my opinions, and my observations...but that IS what the OP asked for, so please take it as such.