Would you like nursing unions in Alabama?

U.S.A. Alabama

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.

I'm just curious after reading some of the comments on unions in other threads, what nurses in Al. think about unionizing. Are you for it or against it and why or why not?.

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My mom is a retired teacher, and my understanding is that there are no teachers' unions in AL (or at least not in this area) and consequently the pay for teachers is terrible here...whereas in other states, like Pennsylvania, the teachers have unions, and from what I have heard the fact that the unions simply exist makes a huge difference in how well the teachers are paid. I've heard that the salary potentials with a union is something like twice what is tends to be without a union - but again this is just hearsay on my part, and this is about teachers.

I don't know if that same principle would apply to nursing salaries, but all the salary-finder websites that I've looked at seem to show that nurses in AL are paid well below the national average for nurses.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.

Don't I know it Jedi! That is why I don't understand why there isn't a bigger push from Al. RNs to unionize. I don't see any other way to get better pay in this state.:o

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Don't I know it Jedi! That is why I don't understand why there isn't a bigger push from Al. RNs to unionize. I don't see any other way to get better pay in this state.:o

Yeah...now, I am only a student, and (again) this is just what I've heard from talking to various nurses - but yeah, I've heard that LPN grads who work in Nashville alone can start out at something like $16/hr working in nursing homes; whereas RNs at Huntsville Hopital start at $17-18/hr. And that just strikes me as ridiculous. Which, don't get me wrong - $17/hr in and of itself isn't bad necessarily, I suppose...but when you consider everything that's at stake in a nurse's job and how hard they work - and if you compare the pay to that of other states - and considering the nursing shortage - it just seems criminal. Plus, as nice as it may be, you just can't raise a family (imo) on $17/hr.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.

$17/hr for four years of college considering what college costs is close to ridiculous, and it is not just starting pay. After 13 years w/ the same hosp. I make 9/hr more than a new grad. Which is not bad in Al. but when retaining nurses is so hard to do you would think 13 years of experience would be worth alittle more. I know it hasn't kept up w/ inflation.

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Personally, I don't need to pay anyone to speak for me. As far as pay, the union hospitals in California pay twice what non-union hospitals in Alabama pay......but then housing and other COL is more than 3 times as high.

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I'm just curious after reading some of the comments on unions in other threads, what nurses in Al. think about unionizing. Are you for it or against it and why or why not?.

I think it would be a good idea. I think that the pay and working conditions would drastically improve if it were to happen. But being that there are so many people here in Alabama with the power that are resistant to change (which in my opinion are also resistant to growth), then I feel that it will be a long time coming. But, I will be sacrifice myself and be a matyr if it means that working conditions will improve for nurses and healthcare improve for our patients.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.

Thanks for the input. I'm torn when it comes to unions. On the one hand, I would like to see some established nurse to pt. ratios (a little more money would be nice too!) and it would be nice to have some protection from admins who can fire you for anything or nothing. On the other hand, I don't like giving someone the power to negotiate for me and I don't like paying dues w/o any say in where the money goes. I just don't see much else that will give nurses power in the south.

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Specializes in Home Health.

I'm not a nurse (yet), but FWIW, I think unions would be a bad move for Alabama. Yes, the pay is not exactly on par with other states, but the cost of living is less here too. With health care costs being such a hot button issue at the moment, unionizing in order to raise pay and reduce workload will only serve to eliminate nursing jobs as the greater financial pressure forces downsizing of hospital services offered. The line between keeping pay high and pricing yourself right out of the market is very thin and a union would only make that line thinner.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.
I'm not a nurse (yet), but FWIW, I think unions would be a bad move for Alabama. Yes, the pay is not exactly on par with other states, but the cost of living is less here too. With health care costs being such a hot button issue at the moment, unionizing in order to raise pay and reduce workload will only serve to eliminate nursing jobs as the greater financial pressure forces downsizing of hospital services offered. The line between keeping pay high and pricing yourself right out of the market is very thin and a union would only make that line thinner.

I'm not sure I entirely agree w/ your reasoning. Where I work they have already cut nsg jobs w/ no union in site. Mabey if there were a union we would have set nurse to pt ratios. Also, my inst. manages to find all kinds of money to expand all the while defeating any attempt at another hosp. moving in to the area, so I think they have the money to pay nurses.

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If the Unions' priority was Nurse-Pt Ratio and other safety concerns, then why are they not here in Alabama advocating for that now instead of wanting to establish a union first? There is no law preventing them from lobbying the Legislature for new laws before dues are sought. Just food for thought.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.
If the Unions' priority was Nurse-Pt Ratio and other safety concerns, then why are they not here in Alabama advocating for that now instead of wanting to establish a union first? There is no law preventing them from lobbying the Legislature for new laws before dues are sought. Just food for thought.

You have to have money in the coffers to get anything done. Besides, given the South's history of resistance to change and the response groups from outside get when they try to advocate for change here, I don't think it would be productive for them to try to make changes w/o the local nursing core behind them. I don't know that unions would be the best way to bring about change but they are one way and I don't see anyone stepping up w/ another idea.

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