Unionized? Night Shift? I need your input!

[meanmaryjean]

If you are a unionized night shift nurse, would you please respond to this question?

What policies specific to being unionized, impact you as a night shift nurse?

In other words- are there specific things in your bargaining agreement that perhaps a nurse in a non-unionized position would not have? This can relate to scheduling, meetings and education, breaks - anything at all that your union status provided that a non-union nurse / non-night shift nurse may not have.

Thanks so much!!!

[loriangel14, RN]

They are where I work.

[Fiona59]

If it's a union site you have to join the union.

Remember unions are not the great Satan. Without unions you would have no paid vacation, paid statutory holidays, medical/dental benefits. No defined hours of work in a day.

Now, let's have a chorus of "Look for the Union Label". Or am I the only one old enough to remember those commericals? Gotta love youtube

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I work in a union facility. I am actually on the bargining committee. In our contract there is a clause that allows management to make changes necessary to allow the building to run efficently and improve patient care. Just yesterday our January schedule came out and several nurses have part time jobs outside the facility. Two of those nurses had their required weekend shifts switched to opposite weekends without clarification that it was going to be done. I was one of those nurses. I am now faced with losing that part time job as I had agreed to work on what I thought would be my weekend job. It is a requirement for my part time job that I find my own replacement if I am unable to work my shift. If I am unable to find replacement, I must report to work or face disciplinary action up to and including termination. There is nothing that can be grieved with this change as management made the change to allow for proper RN coverage on the weekends. Both myself and the other nurse must report for our "new weekend" shifts. The other nurse will now have to call her other employer and hope that she can switch her weekend there or work beyond safe time frames for practice.

There also should be a clause in the contract that states that if there is an issue with the schedule, seniority rules in schedule disputes. So if there is a less senior nurse on your original weekend, that is a protected benefit. If there is not a clause like this, it is something that you may want to negotiate in future contracts.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Yes they are in most facilities....

[Carrollrn]

still not fair- I was a new RN in which I had a child in school and I wanted some school holidays off with him. Senior nurses with NO kids got those days off repeatedly for 4 years until they left the facility.

It should be alternated

[Fiona59]

I've got 13 years of service and can't get vacation during May-Sept. That's life, I've had to suck it up. Either that or transfer to a hell hole of a unit to become senior on the vacation list. I've worked a unit where we had two 25+ year nurses transfer in. Shot the vacation list to hell.

But if you ar kind and willing to negotiate you can alway get the "old girls" to give up a couple of days. It means you work some of their less desirable shift.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

Things like:

Are staff meetings mandatory (you get dinged if you don't attend) AND held at 2pm? All meetings are on day shift, but usually immediately after shift change.

Is all mandatory education (the face-to-face kind) held during the day? Almost 100%, but they've gotten better at at least offering it immediately after shift.

Does your employer call you on the phone during the day, or do they email or text to protect your sleep time? They have a habit of calling, until a particular nurse nips it in the bud. But then they only stop calling that particular nurse.

When your hospital has an event (picnic / nurses week) is an equal event held at night - or do you get leftovers? Very, very rarely.

Thoughts???

At my facility, at least.

[AndyBRN]

This can happen in a unionized hospital as well. Usually under the collective agreement and job description, it talks about rotating shifts, ability to work alternating weekends, holidays, etc. If a staff member chooses to swap day and night shifts with their opposite line partner on the schedule, that is their decision, however it could be revoked within the rights of the manager.