Which States Have Nursing Union Jobs?

SarahMaria, MSN, RN · Dec 25, 2015

In Connecticut, state jobs and some hospitals are unionized

db2xs · Dec 25, 2015

Dumb question. What states have union jobs ( nursing) . I think if I belonged to a union, I might not be so inclined to quit nursing due to abuse.
Thanks

I work in California, California has a very strong union. When I was in nursing school, I was opposed to the concept of unions, but once I became a nurse on the floor, I realised why it was important. Management will rake you over the coals without consideration and having the backup for various incidences has been instrumental.

Some places have a stronger union presence than others here, that's inevitable. Having said that, the best wages are in this state, as well as patient/staff ratios, so it's not horrible by any stretch of the imagination.

Bob Loblaw · Dec 26, 2015

Members and citizens get the union and government they deserve. If the union is bad, next time an election throw the bums out. RN's want to change things- be ready to walk the picket line. The only power a union has is with-holding labor. A union hospital in my area wanted better ratios, gave a deadline and had every member ready to go out the door and shut down the hospital. Last minute they got their ratios. Another problem would be fellow RN's looking for a job crossing picket lines.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 26, 2015

In Connecticut, state jobs and some hospitals are unionized

Added CT to previous list.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Dec 26, 2015

IN was on the list, but that is a limited number of facilities, mainly in the northern half. The southern part of the state is 0 as far as I know.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 26, 2015

I work in California, California has a very strong union.

This is very true; however, not all hospitals in California are unionized.

Unionization in California seems to follow a regional pattern: there are many union facilities in northern CA, fewer in central CA, and even fewer in southern CA. Predictably, northern CA facilities seem to offer the highest pay rates, whereas southern CA hospitals have lower pay rates.

The cost of living is high enough to make one's nose bleed in both parts of the state.

db2xs · Dec 26, 2015

This is very true; however, not all hospitals in California are unionized.
Unionization in California seems to follow a regional pattern: there are many union facilities in northern CA, fewer in central CA, and even fewer in southern CA. Predictably, northern CA facilities seem to offer the highest pay rates, whereas southern CA hospitals have lower pay rates.
The cost of living is high enough to make one's nose bleed in both parts of the state.

Commuter, you are correct: Not all hospitals are unionised either in Nor or So Cal. The strongest unions by far are in Nor Cal, especially Kaiser. The nurses there are hooked up in the most ridiculous way. Some hospitals make it mandatory to join the union if you want to be hired, some don't care, and some are not unionised.

I think Nor Cal's cost of living, particularly in the SF Bay Area, has gotten ridiculous. I used to live there. I now live in So Cal and personally, yes, it may not cost as much as, say, Illinois, but I also get paid a lot more, I'm not freezing during the winter, I can also get affordable fresh produce all year around--the list goes on. I personally don't think LA cost of living is "enough to make one's nose bleed," unless you live on the West Side, although there are definitely parts of the Northeast that are getting up there.

So Cal's hospitals do pay less than Nor Cal's, but again, a lot more than someplace like Alabama or Maryland.

allnurses Guide · Dec 27, 2015

Some links for union information in several states.

You can call for the hospitals with union representation in a state you are interested in.

Who We Are | National Nurses United

NNOC | National Nurses United

martymoose, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2015

When I got hired for my job that was IUE, you pretty much had to know someone already in the union to get in. Is it that way with the Nursing union supported facilities?

I<3Nursing · Dec 27, 2015

The VA is unionized :-) and no it isn't hard to get in, USAJOBS...takes a long time to get hired but it isn't challenging.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 27, 2015

Can you elaborate on the unions in these two states for me? Particularly NV?

Sorry,I have no experience with unions in these states.

You can check out union websites + visit AN's U.S. section to find state specific nursing discussions.

Nevada:

SEIU Nevada lists facilities.

Nevada | National Nurses United Mountain View Hospital, Las Vegas

AZ discussion:

Nursing Unions | allnurses

8-ball, BSN · Dec 29, 2015

Back when I was a nurse in FL I really enjoyed it. The union there doesn't require dues they are paid via your nursing licence I think, so if you have a licence in FL you are union (don't quote me on this, long time ago). The union helps with breaks, and ratios but they aren't big into strikes and things like that so I would say a medium level union. I loved it. This was back in 2010 as a brand new nurse.