Unions anyone?

tyvin, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2010

What is your location?

Davey Do · Nov 4, 2010

Unions were originally formed to create fair working conditions for the proletariat. That's a good concept in essence. However, in enforcing equal treatment across the board, all have to abide by a decision of the majority. Creative means of dealing with specific problems get lost in laborious exercies which are not only energy expending, but often futile.

Another approach in dealing with specific problems, such as understaffing, would be to approach Administration with documented facts. This is a direct, internal approch within the institution. Administration needs to have a chance to formally respond to the areas of concern.

If, after an adequate amount of attempts, the situation is not rectified, outside resources can be utilized. There are so-called bulldogs out there who look after the best interests of the individuals that institutions serve. There is the Dept. of Human Rights, Public Health Dept., and Joint Commision, to name a few.

Too often, Unions attempt to act as a blanket solution to all problems. This they cannot be.

Dave

merlee · Nov 4, 2010

I was happiest when I worked in a union place, many years ago. We were never overworked again and again, and we had a voice.

There are a variety of unions out there already.

tyvin, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2010

Either you like the unions or not. I myself have been fortunate enough to have been protected by nursing unions at all jobs I've had in my life except for one. In my experience I find the unions that I've been a member of invaluable. I know it's popular right now with our political climate to bash the unions but you won't here anything negative from me about them. They were always there when I needed them.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2010

Our facility has a union. They still don't have benefits, work madatory OT and work short.....one thing it does do...it so soooo hard to fire anyone. Even poor performers seem to get their job back.

Not all unions are good for the staff. Maybe it is just the one we have?

CloudySue · Nov 4, 2010

We have LPN or RN "supervisor" on our nametags so unions cannot approach us in the parking lot or whereever. Our place spends a lot of effort, especially at time of hire/orientation, to demonize unions. I would love to be sure that we had enough CNA's and was able to take our breaks. We're supposed to get one half hour and two paid 15's, but I don't think I've ever said to people, "I'm going on a 15 now." I have to force myself to take lunch! I wish I had all the money for the free work I've been forced by circumstance to give them. Lately I've been reminding myself, "This ain't the Red Cross! No free work for them! They make a profit here and not sharing it w you!"

snuggles49 · Nov 4, 2010

Unions are not the answer to short staffing, missed breaks , madatory OT etc. We have had a union for 8 years we are on our third contract. The union contract benefits the union members as well as management as long as you have a good contract and that depends on your negotating team which consists of employees and management representation. One plus for management is with a union contract the rules of the job are specified clearly. For instance in our contract it is clear what happens when you are absent, if an employee is absent 4 times they enter into a disciplinary process which ultimately coud lead to termination. Same for tardiness. Staffing levels are a management right. The union can not dictate patient to staff ratios. Mandatory overtime can be enforced. Breaks will be paid if missed but have to be justified why missed. Unions have the good and the bad. They help maintain pay raises. They also keep poor performers employed. The top performers often pay the price for the under performers. It is difficult to discipline a poor performer unless they blatantly do something that violates a article in the contract which usually doesn't address there work performance. I have seen a few employees get disciplined for unsatisfactory work performance but it has taken a extensive paper trail to prove it. You will pay union dues which our RN staff pay in the area of $80 a month. The union members also have 11 step process before they will reach the top of the pay scale. They move one step per year so fiqure it out . Be careful what you wish for.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Nov 4, 2010

You realize that starting a union would be taking on a monumental task? People have been killed over this. I agree with your comments on working conditions. Management listens to us at their convenience. I wish we had unions here in Colorado, I've seen too many coworkers fired for petty and capricious reasons. If you are serious, you need to educate yourself on state law and other unions in your state. Without a strong and majorative sense of dissatisfaction among local nurses you would be standing alone. You would need a LOT of support from other nurses in the area. Start Googling and good luck!

Vonique · Nov 4, 2010

I just wish there was a way to protect ourselves from having to work as though we have a hundred arms and legs, several heads, and about a million eyes. The workload in LTC is simply unreasonable! You either give the medicine and do the tasks as ordered, which will take way longer than the 8 hours you have, or you take shortcuts to get everything done in a timely fashion and risk getting fired for prepouring meds or giving a 9 pm med at 5.

There are some jobs that are simply undoable but the higher ups just don't care, as long as it looks good on paper. They don't care about your license because there will always be another nurse who needs a job.

I just wish there was somewhere to go to complain and have your concerns heard. Someone mentioned department of public health--well aren't they the ones who make up all those "rules" about a med pass. The ones that if we really abided by them would take about a week for one morning pass!!!! WHY DON'T THEY SEE THAT????

Short of a union, what else can I do????

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 4, 2010

either you like the unions or not. i myself have been fortunate enough to have been protected by nursing unions at all jobs i've had in my life except for one. in my experience i find the unions that i've been a member of invaluable. i know it's popular right now with our political climate to bash the unions but you won't here anything negative from me about them. they were always there when i needed them.

i agree. the unions really went to bat for us in terms of working conditions -- staffing, floating, breaks, etc.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Nov 4, 2010

When I was a staff nurse at the hospital, I HAD to join the union. They did nothing for me. They did, however, make it impossible for us to get rid of the unit secretary who wouldn't bathe and whose body odor could be smelled from one end of the hall to the other. When asked to bathe, she said it wasn't in her contract (it wasn't).

I've worked in other buildings with unions. We were expecting an admission and needed to move a bed. I asked one of the nurses who was at least 20 years younger than I to help me move a bed. He flat out refused saying it wasn't in his job description. I had a CNA who was chronically late and did a horrible job. He had been counseled on more than one occasion. When we could no longer tolerate his poor performance, we terminated him. The union steward came in and told me I couldn't term. him because he was a member of 2 protected classes. "What...dumb and DUMBER????"

I'm sorry y'all have rotten bosses. A union isn't the answer to all your problems. And as for the posters who think the nursing homes are making a huge profit, think again. Medicare and Medicaid have both cut back on reimbursement. It's estimated that 30% of facilities might close in the next 2 years.