What do nursing unions do?

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I know there has been a lot of talk about unions lately. Exactly what do they do for nurses?

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well, it depends on the strength of your union.

they are supposed to be able to negotiate good contracts for workers, like more money, more staff, etc...

they are available to assist in problems with scheduling, requested time off, floating issues,complaints against you, seniority issues, etc...

they have many duties. they are there to make sure the contract between the employees and the hospital is followed.

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An important role, the future of nurses depends of the stronghess of Union and Associations greater than other supports.

Regards.

well, it depends on the strength of your union.

they are supposed to be able to negotiate good contracts for workers, like more money, more staff, etc...

they are available to assist in problems with scheduling, requested time off, floating issues,complaints against you, seniority issues, etc...

they have many duties. they are there to make sure the contract between the employees and the hospital is followed.

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Here in the UK it is very unusual for a nurse (qualified) not to be in a union. I know it is different in the US - perhaps that is why we have much better holiday entitlemnt (oops spelling) - aprox 7 weeks including bank holidays. :) :) :)

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Unions promote a dictatorship of medicocrity

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Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.

I'm proud of the union I belong to. They work hard for us.

Here's the Table of Contents of my union contract book:

1. Rocignition and coverage

2. No discrimination

3. Exclusive agreement, amnedments, terms of agreement

4. Offical communications, requests for information and meetings

5. Union security and dues deduction

6. Classification and compensation procedures for staff nurses

7. Compensation

8. Classification and compensation procedures for staff nurses

9. Benefits

10. Educational assistance and professional enrichment - staff nurses

11. Relief nurse program

12. Temporary assignments/floating

13. Weekend staffing

14. Shifts and shift rotation

15. Leaves of absence - staff nurses

16. Christmas and New Years holiday

17. Jury Duty and legal appearances - staff nurses

18. Time off for union officers

19. Advance transfer requests

20. Payroll procedures

21. Nurse information centers

22. Performance evaluation - staff and relief nurses

23. Written warning and discipline

24. Grievance and arbitration

25. No strikes or lockout

26. Notice of personnel guidelines and procedure changes

27. Joint conferences

28. Nurse practice committee

29. SPecial conferences

30. Health, welfare and safety

31. Senority accural and application - staff nurses

32. Staff reductions and layoff

33. Home health care

34. Reserve rights of _____ Hospital

35. Separability and saving clause

Signature page

Wage schedule

Glossary

Our union is able negotiate an excellent pay with excellent benefits and empowers us to at least have a say in the way we conduct ourselves professionally in OUR jobs.

I feel for what we get, they are definitely worth the $30/month.

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Unions promote a dictatorship of medicocrity

WHAT!!!! :rotfl:

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Unions promote a dictatorship of medicocrity

Agree!! :chuckle

steph

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Wow I don't work with mediocre nurses. I am in no way mediocre either. Hiring practices are pretty stringent in the unionized hospitals where I have worked here on the West Coast. Gee, then, I guess that does not apply to all unions eh. :rolleyes:

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Wow I don't work with mediocre nurses. I am in no way mediocre either. Hiring practices are pretty stringent in the unionized hospitals where I have worked here on the West Coast. Gee, then, I guess that does not apply to all unions eh. :rolleyes:

You are right. Just gotta love Tom and his bluntness. :)

steph

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I love Tom to death, he is hilarious. But I could not disagree more on this issue.

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

I'm doing my Leadership project on union vs. nonunion. I currently work at a facility where only a few nurses belong to the union. Some of coworkers who have been nurses for a long time are big proponents of the union and have told me I need to let it be known to my class that unions are out there and that they are worth joining. We are getting a new union coming into our facility (up until now the nurses have been represented by Local Operating Engineers union and they don't really know a lot about the healthcare industry) and there is a buzz about the hospital.

I would like some information on unions and am unsure of how to start. I know I can contact the union that is coming into our facility and I plan on interviewing both union and nonunion nurses. But I'm interested in other unions and how they differ from the one that's representing our nurses. Anyone know of any websites or having any information from the ones you belong to?

My nursing instructors are all really looking forward to my presentation because they also don't think that new nurses know enough about unions or have enough desire to join. I know without the union at our facility, the nurses would not have gotten the raise they did few years ago and the one just recently. They were also getting screwed on sick days as well. This new union wants to talk about negotiating a pension/retirement plan but I have my doubts about that one happening. It would be nice, though.

Any thoughts, opinions, advice, or suggestions? From both those who oppose unions and those who are for or belong to one?

Thanks in advance,

Melanie :p

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