Union, yes or no?

[NICUNURSE]

I am a new nurse and have recently heard that the nurses at my hospital are considering going union. It seems (at least on my unit) that the biggest issue is pay. Are any of you guys union and if so, what do you think? And for those of you who don't agree with being union, why not?

[Gomer]

Don't blame you Spacenurse. Tenet is famous for buying and closing hospitals. I just heard their CEO resigned today.

[pickledpepperRN]

Originally posted by Gomer

Don't blame you Spacenurse. Tenet is famous for buying and closing hospitals. I just heard their CEO resigned today.

Yep, someone said they traded one balding middle aged crook for another balding middle aged crook.

[charissa]

What a great thread!

[pickledpepperRN]

California Nurses Want Federally Supervised Union Elections at Tenet Hospitals

May 30, 2003 03:24 AM

May 30--The California Nurses Association filed on Thursday with the National Labor Relations Board for

federally supervised union elections at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana and four other California hospitals

owned by Tenet Healthcare Corp.

CNA had petitioned the NLRB earlier this month for union elections at eight other Tenet hospitals, including Los

Alamitos Medical Center and Coastal Communities Hospital.

The move intensifies a battle between CNA and two other labor groups--Service Employees International Union

and United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals--which recently signed an

agreement with Tenet calling for raises of as much as 29percent over four years. Under the agreement, Tenet

would facilitate union elections by SEIU or UNAC at its 40 hospitals in California.

The CNA, which organizes only registered nurses, has asked the NLRB to nullify Tenet's pact with SEIU and

UNAC, saying it is illegal and amounts to the company "hand-picking" its unions.

Sonia Moseley, executive vice president at UNAC, said that even if the NLRB mandates federally supervised

elections, her union would contest CNA at all Tenet hospitals in Orange and San Diego counties. "We welcome

a fair contest with an even playing field," Chuck Idelson, CNA's spokesman said.

Tenet spokesman Steve Campanini said that at hospitals where SEIU or UNAC win, whether in private elections

or federally administered ones, the terms of the deal would apply. "Either there's a vote for CNA, which would

likely result in a protracted strike as they haggle over a contract. Or there's a vote for SEIU/UNAC, which

would result in an immediate 8 percent raise," he said. "Or the employees could vote no union representation

at all."

To see more of The Orange County Register, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.ocregister.com

http://www.ocregister.com>

[Gomer]

Spacenurse, I've said it before....CNA and SEIU are in a war and it is the bedside nurse who has become the victim of their battles. Why any nurse would want to belong to such groups is beyond me.

[pickledpepperRN]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20030521-9999_1mi21pph.html

Palomar Pomerado contract includes 22% raise in 1st

year

By John Berhman

UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

May 21, 2003

ESCONDIDO - Nurses in the Palomar Pomerado Health district will vote today and

tomorrow on a contract that would make them among the highest-paid nurses in

the county, district and union officials say.

The contract would give district nurses a 30 percent increase in salary over the

next three years, including an average 22 percent increase the first year.

Experienced clinical nurses would earn $37.91 an hour, or about $73,000 a year, in

the first year of the contract. Jan France, a nurse and member of the bargaining

team, said veteran nurses make slightly more than $32 an hour now.

Beginning nurses would make $25 an hour, or about $48,000 a year, in the first year.

France said they are paid about $21 an hour now.

The contract, which includes other provisions favorable to nurses, is the first

negotiated since Palomar Pomerado nurses voted last year to join the California

Nurses Association.

CNA spokesman Charles Idelson said the contract will make nurses at the district's

two hospitals the highest paid in the county. Michael H. Covert, Palomar

Pomerado's chief executive officer, said beginning nurses would be the county's

highest paid, and more experienced nurses among the highest paid.

Members of the union bargaining team said yesterday that they are pleased with

the proposed contract and are confident the district's 725 nurses will vote

overwhelmingly to approve it. "I think we have done very well for our first-time

contract," France said.

Palomar Pomerado, a public district with an elected board, operates Palomar

Medical Center in Escondido, Pomerado Hospital in Poway and smaller facilities in

inland North County. The seven-member hospital board is scheduled to consider

the contract at its next meeting June 2 and is expected to approve it.

"We believe that this agreement with CNA is not only fair and generous for our

nursing staff, but is one that will protect the financial and operational strength of

PPH in the future," Covert said. "I am confident that the result will be a recognized

win-win agreement of which we can all be proud."

Nurses gained CNA union recognition from the district last July. Negotiations

began the following month, said France, a critical-care nurse at Palomar Medical

Center, and the tentative agreement was reached late Friday.

"I think the majority of the nurses will be very pleased with an average increase of

22 percent in their wage this year, no increase in their health care premium for 2004

and an enhanced pension plan," said Donna Johnson, an emergency room

registered nurse at Palomar and also a member of the bargaining team.

The contract was negotiated by a team of nurses and CNA representatives and

district managers. District administrators estimate the contract would cost the

district between $20 million to $22 million over its three-year duration.

The contract's guaranteed raises will replace a merit-pay system, the CNA's Idelson

said. "This is one of the items we are most proud of because the merit system is so

subjective and open to cronyism," he said. "Years of experience will now be

recognized."

Other benefits include a ban on mandatory overtime, a commitment to guarantee

pension benefits through the California Public Employees system, a restriction on

"unsafe floating," referring to nurses working in areas where they do not have the

proper expertise, and input on staffing issues with arbitration for resolution of

disputes required.

Much of the country is dealing with a severe nursing shortage, and Palomar

Pomerado and many hospitals had been losing nurses because of pay and job

demands.

Covert and Lori Shoemaker, Palomar Pomerado's chief nursing officer, said they

believe the higher salaries will encourage more nurses to stay with the district.

"In taking this step, Palomar Pomerado is recognizing the invaluable contribution

of registered nurses to the quality of care, as well as responding to the realities of

the current market," Shoemaker said.

John Berhman: [phone]; [email protected]

[pickledpepperRN]

Top 5 Reasons RNs Vote for a NURSES union, California 2003

1. Salaries and Benefits That Recruit and Retain RNs

2. New Standards for RNs And Patient Protection

3. Dramatic Gains in Retirement

4.Voice and Respect

5. A Legally Binding Contract

[healingtouchRN]

that makes me really sad I read it because my base is not that of even the new grads & I've been outta school since the '80's....& have certification in my specialty....(heavy sigh). I tried to get union at my hospital but it just got me alot of people who were scared to talk to me.

[pickledpepperRN]

Originally posted by Gomer

Spacenurse, I've said it before....CNA and SEIU are in a war and it is the bedside nurse who has become the victim of their battles. Why any nurse would want to belong to such groups is beyond me.

I have been a member of CNA for many years. First when working at a CNA facility, contunued membership when working at a non CNA hospital, now back at the first place, same unit & shift. The education on how to advocate for patients is reason enough to join together with other nurses to improve patient care. I will tell you why:

WE do it for our PATIENTS!

God forbid, Gomer, that you may need a registered nurse some day. We are all one accident or illness away from that need. I hope if it happens one of us is there for you!

[pickledpepperRN]

Nurses working at the Tenet hospitals with the SEIU agreement have three choices:

1. Quit your job.

2. Get SEIU, picked by the company to be your union.

3. Sign a CNA card for a National Labor Board election.

If you choose #3 you will have an election. The nurses will vote

No Union

SEIU

or

CNA

At least there is a choice. You know what I did. I could never do #2 and pay dues to a union Tenet was in agreement with!

[pickledpepperRN]

Originally posted by teeituptom

Howdy yall

from deep in the heart of texas

You find yourselves getting drawn into the collective bargaining mass. ... It just doesnt work for me. But for those it does work for I wish you the best and God Bless you.

Yes. I look forward to crossing strikelines also.

doo wah ditty

Well it sounds like democracy and working together to me. I have NOT been assimilated.

My fellow nurses know my strenghts and weaknesses. I get on their nerves sometimes. The very same nurse who annoys me comes up with great ideas. We are together on not accepting unsafe assignments.

I see excellent and terrible conditions when working registry. There are units so unsafe I cannot imagine going back.

PS:

We both know the Borg are fictional. I just want to know if you think they elected their Queen?

To get WAY off the subject, do you prefer ST- TO, TNG, DS- 9, Voyager, or Enterprise?

[pickledpepperRN]

Not RNs. LVNs and CNAs, RTs, and clerks are involved. Also Lab and other employees whose jobs are essential to patient care. (Who wants to be a patient where there are not enough houskeepins staff?)

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206~22097~1431246,00.html

June 03, 2003 Pasadena, CA

Valley medical center workers threaten strike

By Emanuel Parker, Staff Writer

SAN GABRIEL -- Workers at San Gabriel Valley Medical Center held a noisy two-hour demonstration Monday and threatened to strike because hospital administrators have failed to negotiate a contract with their union.

Fernando Losada, director of the Caregivers and Healthcare Employees Union, said since January they have been trying unsuccessful to reach an agreement with the hospital during negotiations at Monrovia's Holiday Inn.

"That is why we are prepared to picket and even strike if we have to,' said Mirna Martinez, a CHEU negotiator and nursing assistant.

The union represents about 400 "nonregistered nursing staff,' including lab technicians, licensed vocational nurses, aides and clerical support staff, Losada said. As many as 40 workers picketed Monday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the almost 300-bed hospital at 438 W. Las Tunas Drive.

"We are profoundly concerned about the low wages and the wage disparity in this hospital, which keeps qualified and experienced staff from staying here, and makes it very difficult for the hospital to fill empty positions with new people,' Losada said.

Eileen Diamond, vice president of development and public relations for the hospital, was not immediately available for comment.

Esther Gomez, who works in surgery, said there's turmoil at the hospital because new hires are paid more than employees with years of seniority.

"There's a lot of disparity,' she said. "People with seniority are still getting real low wages that don't cover the cost of living. Whereas new people ... are getting what's up to date now. It's not fair.'

Union officials claim the hospital's substandard pay makes it hard for departments to hire and keep qualified X-ray technicians and students are doing work that should be performed by licensed techs.

-- Emanuel Parker can be reached at [phone], Ext. 4475, or by e-mail at [email protected].