Why is unionization a subject of taboo??

praise2u, CNA · Oct 19, 2011

Hey everybody,
I work on a busy telemetry floor in Florida. Most days/nights (I work both) I am running around like crazy trying to get everything done with minimal time to take a break, go to lunch, or go to the bathroom. Pay is not that great and I feel as if upper mgmt continuously send patients that are not appropriate acuity for our floor. We are staffed 5:1 and have rapid responses/codes daily and are always shipping people off to the ICU for higher level of care. Also, our charge nurse usually takes patients and we are usually also short staffed a tech leaving the individual RN to fend for ourselves.
I know it is like this everywhere (at least on telemetry units)....sooooo why aren't nurses banding together to stop this? Why is it such taboo to talk about starting a nursing union in Florida (or in other states for that matter)?
In a private conversation with my ANM (who I have grown close with through the ups and downs of our crazy floor), I asked her this same question. She totally freaked out on me and refused to even say the word "union" out loud suggesting that if someone overheard us, we could be fired on the spot. What? Seriously? I'm not saying that unionization is the absolute answer but maybe blending some of their ideas with our own to make for a better workplace for all. Why are we not allowed to even talk about it out loud? This isn't a dictatorship. And nurses continue to put up with this. They say things like, "It is what it is." Actually, usually, it is what it shouldn't be.
Anyway, sorry for the rant. As a disclaimer, I am very thankful to have a job and I do enjoy taking care of my patients. Have a great day!

You are sooooooo right! Sounds so much like my job and floor. Over worked and underpaid. The only thing is I get paid for the extra time I stay, probably because I am only part time. I could not imagine this pace full time, you would burn out. I agree 100% with you we should have a union!

OnlyOneNurse · Oct 19, 2011

After 30 years on being a NON-UNION nurse and falsly thinking my outstanding work ethics, attendence, and evaluations would telfon me to any hostile action.

What a dream, or should I say a nightmare, when a nurse executive got a tast of power. I became a UNION nurse, went thru a grievance process that is mandated by the UNION, got UNION attorney, got UNION and NON-UNION support letters.

I owe my contintued employment to the UNION as well as restored position, restored pay, and most important restored integrity because management was found guilty of hostile action by an independent judge, again paid for by the UNION. This would have cost me my mind and thousands of dollars if there was not a contract or UNION to enforce a process. I now enjoy outstanding evaluations again and a job I love again, because any other assessment is considered retailation, which is covered by a contract. Don't get me wrong, I do not abuse the situation, I come to work everyday, give 200% and follow the rules. I have a moral and ethical committment to help other nurses thru my UNION in my present position as VP.

For those disinfranchized nurses, think hard about a single voice that is much louder and powerful that your whisper of discontent about not only your own plight, but on behalf of your patients.

brillohead, ADN, RN · Oct 19, 2011

Most of the hospitals in my area are "shared governance" workplaces, although there is one that still has a nursing union.

MissPiggy · Oct 19, 2011

I can somewhat understand the reasoning behind the paranoia of employers. No matter what the circumstances, a union will always be viewed as setting up an adversarial relationship between employee and employer.

Maybe so, but by the mere fact that empolyees are considering unionization tells the fact that mgt. has already thrown down the gauntlet by their treatment of their employees. It takes two to tango and the employees are being forced into the unionization corner by whom else? You guessed it, the employers!

ymaudy · Oct 19, 2011

Seriously? you don't understand why "union" is a dirty word? It threatens the way business is done. Look at the U.S. automotive industry. Unions were originally meant as a way to get fair treatment/pay/working conditions. When unions go too far, they can really get in the way of a business growing and being more efficient. Ultimately, I believe, businesses have the power to avoid the whole union debate by treating their employees fairly and with respect. I work for a hospital that has provided that thus far, and would never even mention the word "union". Not for fear of losing my job, but for giving that word/idea clout.

Code_VSA · Oct 19, 2011

It's still mainly a female profession. Even though we are in the 21st century, females are still considered second class citizens, property, things to abuse, things to protect "the little woman" syndrome.

Worse even more.......WE, being female, do not stick together. Do not support each other. What is done to one, is done to ALL of us! And future generations of Nurses.

I have 5 more years left before I retire. I have two daughters now in the career. I hope it will be different for them. But, I don't think it will be.

I kind of like the time when all of Iceland's females went on strike.

Back in the 90's it was mentioned in a Tennessee hospital that Union talk was going on. The hosptial said they would close down before they would let a Union come in.

I worked in the California Union, it was pretty good.

I now work in the Ontario, Canada Union. It is pretty weak. My husband (a unionized firefighter) tells me all the time, "Your Union sucks, why don't they do something?"

cosmicsun · Oct 19, 2011

As far as I know, it is much more desireable to work with a Union as they strive to provide better working conditions/pay for the employees. The Employers like to pocket the money instead of paying the employees better and having lower nurse to patient ratios. It's all about where the money goes - to the many CEOs with their 6 figure incomes, and the directors, assistant directors and managers, or to the workers.

The employer feels threatened if you mention Union. ($$$)

Code_VSA · Oct 19, 2011

As far as I know, it is much more desireable to work with a Union as they strive to provide better working conditions/pay for the employees. The Employers like to pocket the money instead of paying the employees better and having lower nurse to patient ratios. It's all about where the money goes - to the many CEOs with their 6 figure incomes, and the directors, assistant directors and managers, or to the workers.
The employer feels threatened if you mention Union. ($$$)

Maybe this is why the "Occupy Wall Street" protesting is spreading? We, the people, are freaking tired of CEO's getting fired but receiving a million dollar severance package. While we see our son's and daughter's struggling to make little above minimum wage with no health care and support their children on what little they make.

When I see the news accounts, one phrase comes to mind "POWER TO THE PEOPLE!"

Can't remember if it's from the 60's or 70's, or both? :spbox: Lol....do I smell a revolution coming?

nicurn001 · Oct 19, 2011

Any industry works best when there is a balance of power between labor and management .

I lived in the UK when unions were too powerful , there were too many strikes and industries failed , Margaret Thatcher redressed that balance and labor relations settled . I have now lived and worked in the USA for > 20 years management here is too powerful , they change work conditions on a whim and downsize , just because they are not making enough profit or because an employee has seniority and is more expensive than a new employee would be .

To those of you who think your stellar appraisals and good work ethic makes you think you are untouchable , just look back at contribution #25 by onlyone nurse .

The adversarial atmosphere that is between labor and management comes about , because management is used to acting upon it whims , it is not happy when the union points out an action is against the contract , its own policies and /or the law , often like a toddler who is told no , it has a tantrum rather than work to resolve the problem .

RNLaborNurse4U · Oct 19, 2011

Did any of these nurses get a lawyer and sue? You have a Constitutional Right to belong to a union. It is illegal to fire someone for union activity. Even in right to work states. You do have Constitutional Rights in Right to Work States.
Nurses are in dire need of civics lessons. And lessons on their workplace rights. We do have them, inspite of hospitals trying to convince us that we don't.
JMHO and my NY $0.02.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Somewhere in the PACNW

AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!!!!!!!!! :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:

jhanes · Oct 19, 2011

It is because a Union will increase costs for the facility and once on board are harder to get rid of than C-diff. Add that to the fact that many healthcare unions are run by known communists who have actually caused hospitals to close in areas where they were needed, is reason enough for me to challenge and rebuke as Unamerican the fellow travellers who have regurgitated, direct from the CNA, NNU, SEIU and CPUSA the Party Line. We need to do something alright: Run the Communists and Socialists out of Nursing and Nursing Unions and get Big Government out of health care.

jfw60 · Oct 19, 2011

Are you seriously calling pro union nurses communist? If that's the definition you have chosen then you would know that would mean that being communists there would be no contract or labor discussions because the labor force is controlled by one governing body not chosen for by the people to represent them. Secondly communist don't dicker over pay because their needs are completely provided for by the government. These are arguments over class warfare do not fool yourself into thinking that those that you speak for glowingly in our free market system give one rusty damn about what you think or do. Some of us need to read Animal Farm and be reminded of what ultimate power by one does, corrupt ultimately.