What is a union????

soliant12 · Jan 31, 2006

What is a union? A complete waste of money each month

lpnadmin · Jan 31, 2006

This is about as close to a textbook, unbiased (as humanly possible) definition as I can get, so here goes:

A union is an organization legally designated to negotiate for, and protect the interests of a group of employees that work for a particular employer. In reality, unions can be locally-based, regional or state based, and national based.

At the heart of the union's negotiating power is a legally binding contract between the employer and the union, which spells out working conditions, workforce levels, benefits, etc. If the union feels that management is not dealing fairly with a union, then the union may call a strike or walkout to call attention to their demands. Similarly. a strike by management is called a 'lockout'. Many unions require a 'super-majority' in order to pass a strike vote, anywhere from 60% to 75% approval. This is due to the heavy risks involved in striking; an employer is legally free to replace striking workers and very few strikers recieve unemployment benefits.

In order for a union to become a legal representative of a group of employees, an election by the National Labor Relations Board is conducted. A simple majority is required to win. Once the election is certified, and if the union wins, then both the employer and the union are legally required to sit down and come up with a contract. Sometimes it may take days or months.

Unions are supported by fees paid by members as dues. Dues monies are intended to defray the costs of representation and administration.

I realize this is a (comparitively) short and incomplete answer, but if you need further help, drop me a line.

lpnadmin

Nancy2 · Jan 31, 2006

You can find out how unions actually spend the dues money by looking it up on http://www.dol.gov The reports are called LM-2s and you need to have the legal name of the union in order to obtain this information. Very little dues money is spent on actual contract negotiation and employee representation. Most of any union's dues are spent on organizing more facilities and paying those organizers and their medical and retirement benefits and on political contributions and campaigns.

Kathyz · Jan 31, 2006

I'd agree with the first response; a complete waste of $$$. The union "bargains" for the rights of workers. Do the workers have any idea as to where their dues are going to.............No! Usually in the pockets of the union workers! I'd stay as far away as you can from unions! (They make it look like they're getting you a great deal but they're not. It is totally about $$$$$$$$$.)

cvwshadow · Jan 31, 2006

I appreciate everyones responses...maybe I should have worded my question a little better...As a nurse, what does a union have to offer me? I work for a hospital now that is not a union, and they all seem to be very unhappy. The administration decided that any employee can only take 1 week vacation during the summer, even if said employee has 3 weeks acrued. I have heard union hospitals have higher pay and better benefits...Can anyone explain the pros and cons of a union from a nurses point of view...even if they are biased!!! Thanks so much!!

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2006

Well, we have a union at work. RNs are not in it.

For them it tries to fight for better medical benefits, pay rates, helps with making mandatory OT fair or equally shared. Helps prevent them from getting fired over trivial things. At least they should.

Right now the aids are having to do ridiculous amts of mandatory OT, their benes stink if you ask me and just about no one gets fired or if they do, they end up getting thier job back.

LADS4 · Jan 31, 2006

I think all nurses should be unionized. I work at a union hospital in Pa, and we just negotiated one the best contracts in Pa. We have protection from unjust practices from management, no mandatory ot/ limited pulling to other areas of the hospital, pull pay, chg pay, most senior nurses can take 3 weeks vac in the summer, ability to bid on jobs throughout the hospital, some units have nurse patient ratios, tuition assistance, the best salary/benefit package in Pa. Our union is very active in trying to get some legislation passed regarding mandatory overtime/ nurse patient ratios. So please don't think that union are a wast of your money beccause their not. They help us gain the respect that we deserve as educated men and women who give direct patient care. REMEMBER NURSES SAVE LIVES 24/7 365!

cvwshadow · Jan 31, 2006

Thank you so much!! that was really helpful!!

JMBM · Feb 1, 2006

there are hospital administrations that listen and take into consideration the concerns and interests of their employees. there are some that don't give a d**n and treat employees like dirt. Most administrations fall somewhere in the middle. There are unions that effectively advocate for their members and bargain for their rights. There are also ones that simply take dues and do nothing. Again, most fall somewhere in between. You can't categorically say that unions (or administrations) are good or bad. Is your union worth the dues? It depends on the situation at your hospital. I can say a couple things for sure. First, GOOD unions do alot more than give out picket signs. They are constantly advocating with the administration on their members' behalf. They take up individual grievances of unfair treatment. if you don't have a union and you have a problem with an unfair boss, you are on your own. A good union can be an effective "middleman" who can take concerns up on your behalf. Administrations tend to listen, because unions represent alot of folks, not just you. Second, if your union is ineffective and just taking dues for nothing, the way to change that is to get involved. Go to the meetings and speak up. Unions elect their officers from the rank and file. Make some noise. In the hospitals where I've been, unions have been a good (not always great) deal, but it will depend on where you are. Best of luck.

tencat · Feb 1, 2006

I have been wondering how nurses themselves view unions. It seems to be very similar to how a lot of teachers view unions. I think a good strong union can be a great benefit to the workplace. However, a weak union IS a waste of monthly dues. I have belonged to both in teaching, and I have to say I am a believer in unions. The power of numbers is immense. One worker is expendable, but thousands need to be taken seriously. It's too bad more people don't realize how beneficial unionizing can be. It's probably one of the reasons why nursing and teaching have as many problems as they do with pay and working conditions.

Nancy2 · Feb 1, 2006

I have been a nurse for 20 years. I've worked in both union and non-union hospitals. The most "major" difference was in the enthusiasm of the nursing staff. In the union hospital we'd get a raise that was negotiated by the union (usually comparable to any other facility because market dictates money, not unions) This raise comes whether you work hard and go the extra mile or not.

In the non union hospital you are rewarded with a higher raise if you are excellent. Unions usually call this favoritism, but I saw how really exemplary nurses became adequate after seeing people who were of a lower caliber were making the same or more$ than they were. In a union hospital the nurses are forced to talk about politics, because that is exactly what unions are about...and there is a lot of disagreement. There are plenty of Republican nurses that don't agree with the union agenda etc... If you beleive in the causes thay they financially support, that's good, if you don't there is plenty of resentment and discord among coworkers.

Then there is the issue of strikes. I worked at a hospital that called 5 strikes in one year. They said that we voted "overwhelmingly" to strike, but I couldn't find anyone who voted in favor of striking after the first time. The law says that a union can make their rules. Like how votes on union business are counted and by whom, how contract ratification votes are counted, when someone can be fined, etc...

I personally would never choose to work in a union hospital again!!

Nurses are in such demand, I find it's much more to my advantage to negotiate my own deal.

You could go to any union website to find out what they promise, and then you could visit some websites that disagree with unions like http://www.notinourhouse.org http://www.onevoice-ourvoice.com and http://www.stopunions.com

Good luck with your decision, it's a very important one!