Union-yes or no

[RNBSN08]

Hello,

I am working at a hospital which trying to become union. I am a pool RN and am wondering how this will affect nurses as a whole in my hospital if union were to get voted in and am looking for any input from pool/per Diem RN’s and effects on them specifically. Thank you so much for your input!!

[PEBBLES1]

I truly believe that it's a privilege to have a union in your facility. Not only do they fight for our members; you also have some job protection aginst managers whom abuse their authority as managers. I am definitely a union supporter because you never know when you will need them. I have been at my facility almost 23 years never been in trouble and I have always received excellent evaluations. I have a vindictive manager and she is bully. And if she doesn't like you, your job will be in jeopardy. They do fight to get us good contracts.

She terminated me unjustly. Our administration will side with the managers. I am truly thankful that my union fought for me and I got my job back, along with my senority and back pay. You never ever know when you will need to be represented. I have always been a union supporter. I have know that manager when she was a RN working on another unit. She has always been a nasty hateful person. She landed her position by default. However, she was caught cheating in a nursing program. She grabbed another nurse. All I can say is if you have a union support them because you never know when you will need them to fight for you

[STPetebeachRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Rionoir, you appear to be young and naive. I don't fault you for that as everyone starts out idealistic and thinks that the world will somehow look after them.

The truth is you have zero ability to negotiate or ensure your well being against the forces of corporate America. Come visit us in 10 years after your youthful idealism has been beat down by reality.

[bryanort1987]

Rionoir what city/state are you from?????

[HiddencatBSN, BSN]

Right to work states have some of the lowest wages in healthcare. Across the board too.

To the OP, I’m at my first unionized facility and the difference is amazing. I’ll never work in a nonunionized hospital again. Dues are minimal and the union provides benefits beyond a stronger position to negotiate a contract and grievance process to protect us.

[Rionoir, ADN, RN]

On 10/9/2019 at 5:29 AM, STPetebeachRN said:

Rionoir, you appear to be young and naive. I don't fault you for that as everyone starts out idealistic and thinks that the world will somehow look after them.

The truth is you have zero ability to negotiate or ensure your well being against the forces of corporate America. Come visit us in 10 years after your youthful idealism has been beat down by reality.

I’m 43 and I’ve lived in multiple countries. You were saying...

[guest974915]

On 10/11/2019 at 4:29 PM, Rionoir said:

I’m 43 and I’ve lived in multiple countries. You were saying...

How long have you been employed as an RN?

[Rionoir, ADN, RN]

We are talking about unions and my “youthful ignorance” of corporate America. Don’t blow smoke - if you have something intelligent to add then add it. If you don’t, dont.

[HiddencatBSN, BSN]

6 minutes ago, Rionoir said:

We are talking about unions and my “youthful ignorance” of corporate America. Don’t blow smoke - if you have something intelligent to add then add it. If you don’t, dont.

Actually, multiple posters have pointed out that your lack of nursing experience means you are speaking from a place of ignorance when you claim that individual nurses are able to successfully negotiate employment terms with hospitals better than unions can. Your lack of experience in this field is highly relevant to the weight your opinions should carry in this conversation.

[Rionoir, ADN, RN]

Actually I’ve repeatedly said that I simply hate unions. I’ve watched them ruin other industries I’ve been a part of, as well as destroy the atmosphere of those industries. I appreciate your need to be condescending, but it doesn’t change my opinion.

[HiddencatBSN, BSN]

55 minutes ago, Rionoir said:

Actually I’ve repeatedly said that I simply hate unions. I’ve watched them ruin other industries I’ve been a part of, as well as destroy the atmosphere of those industries. I appreciate your need to be condescending, but it doesn’t change my opinion.

Yes, you have, but you’ve never worked as a nurse so you don’t know what the conditions we face look like. That’s not condescension- that’s pointing out that you speak from position lacking in experience. It’s been pretty kindly done here, but you might want to consider that the experienced, seasoned nurses, with experience in both unionized and nonunionized facilities, are not only addressing you directly but making sure other future and novice nurses reading this thread have the option to weigh the various levels of authority from which we are speaking.

[ArmyRntoMD, BSN, RN]

Not for me. I made over 6 figures in a non union state, and 66k while being a full time college student. I’m definitely not complaining. Nursing is a super nice field when it comes to work conditions imo. People who disagree need to go enlist ?